QUEEN VICTORIA 

DAVID CARB 

AND 

WALTER PRICHARD EATON 




Qass 

Book__ L_ 

PRESENTED B? 



Digitized by the Internet Archive 

in 2011 with funding from 
• The Library of Congress 



http://www.archive.org/details/queenvictoriaplaOOcarb 



QUEEN VICTORIA 



QUEEN VICTORIA 

A Play in Seven Episodes 



BY 

DAVID CARB 



AND 



WALTER PRICHARD EATON 




NEW YORK 
E. P. DUTTON & COMPANY 

68 1 Fifth Avenue 



c \ H I X -_s 



f$ 3&0&- 

Copyright, 1922, 
By DAVID CARB and WALTER PRICHARD EATON 



Dramatic Rights in the United States 
Controlled by Equity Players, Inc. 



CAUTION 

All dramatic rights for Queen Victoria, by David Carb and 
Walter Prichard Eaton, in North America are owned and con- 
trolled by Equity Players, Inc., 157 West 48th Street, New York, 
N. Y. Special notice should be taken that possession of this book 
without a valid contract for production first having been obtained 
from Equity Players, Inc., confers no right or license to profession- 
als or amateurs to produce the play publicly or in private for 
gain or charity. Until further notice performances of this play 
in North America will be limited to those companies which appear 
under Equity Players' direction, and they absolutely forbid other 
performances by professionals or amateurs, including "readings," 
tableaux, and anything of such nature approximating a perform- 
ance. The play is fully protected by copyright and any violations 
will be prosecuted. 

Act of March 4, 1909: Section 28 

"That any person who wilfully or for profit shall infringe any 
copyright secured by this act, or who shall knowingly and wilfully 
aid or abet such infringement shall be deemed guilty of a mis- 
demeanor, and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by im- 
prisonment for not exceeding one year, or by a fine of not less than 
$100 nor more than $1000, or both, in the discretion of the Court." 



Printed in the United States of America 

FEB 28J924 
pu 



THE PERSONS OF THE PLAY: 

Alexandrina Victoria Lord Conyngham, 

The Duchess of Kent, the Lord Ch ™ b " l «™ 

Her Mother Stockmar 

Fr'aulein Lehzen _ . _, 

Prince Albert of Coburg 

Lady Gay Hawthorn 

William Ewart Gladstone 
William Lamb, 

Viscount Melbourne Benjamin Disraeli 
The Duke of Wellington Edward> pw q/ ^^ 

Lord Palmerston 

Sir James Clark 
The Archbishop of 

Canterbury A Footman 

Representatives of the Colonies and Dominions 



FIRST EPISODE— Red Salon in Kensington Palace, June 20, 

1837. - 
SECOND EPISODE— Reception Room in Buckingham Palace, 

October 10, 1839. 
THIRD EPISODE— The Same, October 11, 1839. 

FOURTH EPISODE— The Same, January, 1854. 

FIFTH EPISODE— Bedroom of the Prince Consort, Bucking- 
ham Palace, December 13, 1861. 

SIXTH EPISODE— The Same as Fourth Episode, the Early 
Seventies. 

SEVENTH EPISODE— Throne Room in Buckingham Palace, 
June 20, 1897. 



QUEEN VICTORIA 

By 

David Carb and Walter Prichard Eaton 

Produced at the 48th Street Theatre, New York City, November 15th, 

1923, by the Equity Players, Inc. (Harry O. Stubbs, Managing 

Director). Production staged by Priestly Morrison. 



CAST 

Alexandrina Victoria Miss Beryl Mercer 

The Duchess of Kent Miss Winifred Hartley 

Baroness Lehzen Miss Anita Rothe 

Lady Gay Hawthorne Miss Frances Goodrich 

Prince Albert of Coburg Mr. Ullrich Haupt 

Edward, Prince of Wales Mr. Arthur Maude 

William Lamb, Viscount Mel- 
bourne Mr. Donald Cameron 

The Duke of Wellington Mr. Joseph Denton 

The Archbishop of Canterbury. Mr. Albert Tavernier 

Lord Palmerston Mr. William Ingersoll 

Lord Conyngham Mr. Herbert Standing, Jr. 

Baron Stockmar Mr. Hubert Wilke 

Sir James Clarke Mr. Herbert Farjeon 

Benjamin Disraeli Mr. Clarence Derzvent 

William Ewart Gladstone Mr. George Farren 

A Footman Mr. Borden Harriman 



Court Officials, Representatives of the Dominions and the Colonies 
and of the Army and the Navy. A Delegation of Workmen, etc. 

James H. Bell — Stage Manager 

Scenery, costumes and stage decorations designed by Mr. 
Woodman Thompson 



FIRST EPISODE 

Red Salon in Kensington Palace 
June 20, 1837 



FIRST EPISODE 

It is five o'clock in the morning of June loth, 1 837. 

The rising curtain discloses only dimness and 
silence, but slowly there emerge the outlines of a 
salon in Kensington Palace, a room seeming more 
spacious, perhaps, than it actually is, because of 
Wren's design. Near the audience, on their left, 
are tall doors, now closed, and opposite are tall win- 
dows, hidden now by heavy red draperies which per- 
mit only flecks of gray light to enter. At the rear, 
but vaguely seen, is an archway leading to other 
portions of the sleeping palace. There is no furni- 
ture in the salon, save a row of chairs standing stiffly 
along either side wall; their backs are straight 
and tall, and no doubt they are William and Mary, 
delicately carved and caned. One appears to be 
larger than the rest. 

The slumberous silence is suddenly broken by a 
faint sound of hurrying horses, and then a great 
pounding on some outer door. Again silence. Then 
again the pounding, which ceases abruptly and is pres- 
ently succeeded by a buzz of voices coming nearer. 
A sleepy young Footman in extreme disarray — and 
it is a pity not to have buttoned so superb a jacket 
as he wears, over an ill-concealed nightshirt — throws 
open the great doors, and stands aside to admit the 
Archbishop of Canterbury and Lord Conyng- 
HAM, the Lord Chamberlain. Both these dignitaries 

3 



Queen Victoria 



are dishevelled and dusty, as you will see plainer 
presently, when the Footman draws back the red 
window hangings and admits the light. They con- 
tinue the conversation which we heard as they ap- 
proached. 

CONYNGHAM 

It can't wait. The Princess Victoria must be wak- 
ened. 

ARCHBISHOP, 

A half hour or so ... I myself feel the need of 
a little rest. We could perhaps doze in a chair. 

CONYNGHAM 

But, my lord, it is just five o'clock now. In a half 
hour or so Her Highness — — 

ARCHBISHOP 

Her Majesty. 

CONYNGHAM 

Ah, yes, yes. Of course. It is hard to accustom 
oneself to these sudden changes. She will be no less 
disturbed by being awakened in a half hour or so 
than now. 

ARCHBISHOP 

Well, as you say. 

{He yawns. The Footman has crossed 
to the windows and thrown back the 
draperies. The light is abundant, but gray 



Queen Victoria 



and dull. The fellow is trying frantically 
to button his jacket, smooth his hair, tuck 
in his nightshirt. And he is yet only partly 
awake. He is startled when addressed) 

CONYNGHAM 

You will inform your mistress that the Archbishop 
of Canterbury and the Lord Chamberlain beg an 
audience. 

FOOTMAN 

My lords, I — er — the Princess 



CONYNGHAM 
Eh? 

FOOTMAN 

I dare not interrupt her slumbers at this hour. 

ARCHBISHOP, 

Do as you're bid. 

( The poor fellow goes out rear, much dis- 
tressed) 

What a pity she is so young. If his majesty had lived 
a few years more 

CONYNGHAM 

(Lowering his voice) 
His Majesty lived too long. 



Queen Victoria 



ARCHBISHOP 
Eh? 

CONYNGHAM 

No State secret, my lord. All the world knows that 
the King could not command even his own whims. 

ARCHBISHOP 

But this child, what does she know? 

CONYNGHAM 

She can be taught; the King could not learn. 

ARCHBISHOP 

Can she be taught? We know absolutely nothing of 
her. Here she has stayed with her German mother, 
and her German governess. 

CONYNGHAM 

Her "precious Lehzen," ha, ha! 

ARCHBISHOP 

And that subtle German, the Baron Stockmar. What 
have they taught her? 

CONYNGHAM 

She is only eighteen. She has the eagerness and 
sincerity of youth. His late Majesty had neither 



Queen Victoria 



youth nor eagerness nor sincerity nor the desire for 
them. 

ARCHBISHOP 

Has the Princess the desire? Is she proud, opinion- 
ated, narrow or receptive and 



CONYNGHAM 

We, like England and the rest of the world, are 
entirely in the dark about her. She is the Great 
Enigma. Let us have faith. The first Queen of 
England in a century and a third! 

ARCHBISHOP 

The first Queen since good Queen Anne. . . . After 
all, England has been fortunate in her queens. 

CONYNGHAM 

{Confidentially) 
England has been fortunate in her queens' ministers. 

(The Duchess of Kent comes through 
the rear doors. She is sleepy and thrown 
together) 

DUCHESS 

My lords. 

{They bow. The mother of Victoria is 
flabby. She has assumed an enormous im- 
portance in her own estimation and her 



8 Queen Victoria 



manner seems to be derived from a Laura 
Jean Libby conception of an aristocrat. 
There is an uncomfortable pause) 

My lords? 

ARCHBISHOP 

We crave your pardon, Duchess, for intruding at 
this unseemly hour. 

CONYNGHAM 

Our errand is of such moment that we did not dare 
delay. 

DUCHESS 

Yes, my lords? 

CONYNGHAM 

If we might be received by the Princess Victoria— — - 



DUCHESS 

I am her mother. 

CONYNGHAM 

Yes, Your Grace. But it is necessary that we have 
audience of the Princess. 



DUCHESS 

I am the Princess' guardian. 

CONYNGHAM 
But in this instance, Your Grace- 



Queen Victoria 



DUCHESS 
What is your errand, my lords? 

CONYNGHAM 

Well, we had hoped 

ARCHBISHOP, 

The King is dead! 

DUCHESS 

{Flustered) 
Dead! The King! Then Drina is 

ARCHBISHOP 

She is Queen of England. We must apprise her 
of that fact. 

DUCHESS 

At last! Queen! Drina! 

ARCHBISHOP 

Will you have the goodness to make known to Her 
Highness that we are come on an imperative affair 
of state? 

DUCHESS 

Drina! Queen! A mere child. Just past her 
eighteenth birthday. Last month — The twenty- 
fourth of May 



IO Queen Victoria 



ARCHBISHOP 

{Sternly) 
Madam! 

DUCHESS 

My lord? 

ARCHBISHOP, 
Kindly apprise the Princess 

DUCHESS 
She is asleep. She never rises before seven. 

ARCHBISHOP 
The occasion is unusual. 

CONYNGHAM 
Let me urge Your Grace to delay no longer. 

DUCHESS 

It's an awful thing to be waked at five, even with 
the present of a crown. 

(Lehzen enters. She is neatly dressed, in 
plain, rather rigid clothes. Her hair is well 
ordered, albeit prim. She shows no sleepi- 
ness, nor haste. For all her appearance 
indicates, it might be tea time) 



Queen Victoria 1 1 



CONYNGHAM 

Ah, Fraulein Lehzen. 

LEHZEN 

My Lord Chamberlain. 

ARCHBISHOPi 

Fraulein. 

LEHZEN 

Your Grace. 

CONYNGHAM 

You wiU be overjoyed, Fraulein, to learn that the 
King is dead. I mean — that is to say — your charge 
is the heir apparent. 

LEHZEN 

{Quite calmly. With an accent) 
Ah, that is gut. 

ARCHBISHOP 

At the behest of the Prime Minister we have pre- 
ceded him here to apprise Her Highness of her ac- 
cession. If we may be permitted to perform our 
mission. 

DUCHESS 

(Not without asperity) 
She must not be awakened at this hour. 



12 Queen Victoria 



LEHZEN 

{Ignoring her. To the Archbishop) 

She shall be fetched. 

{She goes. The Duchess draws in her 
breath angrily and glares after the Gov- 
erness. The two men look stonily into 
space, politely appearing not to be aware 
of her humiliation. But she finds the silence 
difficult) 

duchess 

It is very upsetting. I suppose we shall have to move 
to Buckingham Palace. I seem to have done nothing 
all my life but move. Tell me, my lords, is Buck- 
ingham comfortable? I have seen only the State 
apartments. The late King was not fond of us. 

CONYNGHAM 

You will find it all that could be desired. Modern 
in every way. The throne room is illuminated by 
gas from the great chandeliers. 

DUCHESS 

{Ecstatically) 

Gas ! That will be marvellous. My lords, do you 
think Drina ? 

{She stops. For Victoria slips in at the 
rear. She is only slightly awake — a sim- 



Queen Victoria 13 



pie, sweet, unsophisticated girl, who can 
scarcely keep her eyes open. She holds a 
plain dressing gown tightly together, a curl 
paper adorns her forehead, her hair is 
plaited and hangs down her back. Her 
feet are in bedroom slippers. Her face at 
the moment is blank and bewildered) 

{The two men fall to their knees) 

DUCHESS 
{With a little scream) 
Drina ! To come like that ! 

CONYNGHAM 

We are come to apprise Your Majesty that the King 
is dead. 

{When addressed as "Majesty" a faint 
smile of satisfaction comes over her face) 

VICTORIA 

He is dead ! Oh, I'm so sorry. 

CONYNGHAM 

As the daughter of the late Duke of Kent, the fourth 
son of King George III 

VICTORIA 
I am — the — the — I am — 



14 Queen Victoria 



ARCHBISHOP 

(Mercifully) 
We are come, also, to inform Your Majesty- 



(Again the smile of satisfaction on her 
face. She murmurs: "Majesty") 

— that his late Majesty died calmly, like a good 
Christian, at peace with God and man. 

( There is the faintest hint of sarcasm in his 
voice) 

CONYNGHAM 

As the daughter of the late Duke of Kent, Your 
Majesty is the heir to the throne. 

VICTORIA 

(Still dazed) 
I am Queen of England ! 

(An expression of wonderment passes over 
her face. She stands like a bedraggled 
Jeanne d y Arc. The Footman, now im- 
maculate, enters from the left and brings 
Victoria an imposingly sealed envelope. 
The two officials rise. She is utterly bewil- 
dered. She stares at the letter on the salver 
as though it were a sacred relic. The 
Archbishop and Lord Chamberlain 
bow themselves out. Her eyes follow 
them) 



Queen Victoria 15 



I am Queen of England ! 

{She is frightened, as the realization soaks 

in) 
Oh, Mamma, I — I 



DUCHESS 

Take it. 

(Victoria looks at her mother blankly, 
takes the letter and holds it limply) 

Read it. 

(Victoria opens it, reads it — her lips 
spelling out the words — then looks up 
dully ) 

What does it say? 

VICTORIA 

"The Prime Minister, Lord Melbourne, craves of 
Her Majesty" — Majesty! Queen of England. . . . 
Mamma, I am Queen. . . . 

DUCHESS 

{Seizing the letter) 

Tsct! "Craves an audience before the arrival of 
the Councillors of State." Send an answer. 

( The Queen looks scared) 
Tell him 



1 6 Queen Victoria 



VICTORIA 
Yes. 

{To Footman) 

Tell my lord Melbourne that I — that the Queen — 
that Her Majesty — Majesty. . . . 



DUCHESS 

Go on. 

VICTORIA 

Her Majesty will — will 



(Lehzen enters. Victoria runs to her) 

Lehzen, Lord Melbourne craves an audience, and 
then there will be a Council of State. 



LEHZEN 

{Holding her hand, addressing the Footman) 

Her Majesty will receive Lord Melbourne at once. 

VICTORIA 
Not — not in this! 

{She pats her dressing gown) 

DUCHESS 
You must dress. 

LEHZEN 

{To Victoria) 
Lord Melbourne must not be kept waiting. 



Queen Victoria 1 7 



DUCHESS 

Drina, it's absolutely immodest Xo appear before 
people in a peignoir. 

(Lehzen pats her pupil reassuringly) 

I won't permit it. 

(Stockmar enters 

LEHZEN 

You've heard? 

{He nods) 

Lord Melbourne wishes to see Drina. 

DUCHESS 

Drina mustn't see him like that. 

STOCKMAR 

{Mildly) 

The Prime Minister will not be shocked — he is an 
elderly man. 

VICTORIA 
It's — it's not proper. 

STOCKMAR 

Your informality will be an indication of your seri- 
ousness. 

(Victoria smiles, completely reassured. 
The Duchess is peeved) 



1 8 Queen Victoria 



DUCHESS 



I suppose Baron Stockmar is the final authority on 
these little niceties. 

{They don't heed her) 



LEHZEN 

It would be better for Drina's manner to be infop 
mal also. Impulsive, friendly. 

STOCKMAR 

Yes, but dignified. 

VICTORIA 
What will I say to him ? 

STOCKMAR 

"I am very happy" — No — "I have the desire" — 
That won't do either. "It has long been my in- 
tention to retain Your Lordship and the rest of the 
Ministry at the head of affairs." That's it. 

VICTORIA 

"It has long been my — my — — " 



LEHZEN 

Intention. 



Queen Victoria 19 



VICTORIA 

"It has long been my intention to retain Your Lord- 
ship and the rest of the Ministry at the head of 
affairs." 

LEHZEN 

Gut! 

VICTORIA 

"It has long been my intention . . ." 

(She repeats the words silently) 

(The Footman throws open the doors 
with a great flourish. Lehzen and Stock- 
mar go out at the rear. The Duchess 
follows angrily) 

Lehzen, stay with me ! 

FOOTMAN 

Lord Melbourne ! 

( The Prime Minister is in full court dress , 
in striking contrast to the disarray of the 
Queen. He raises Victoria's hand and 
kisses it. She gulps and then repeats 
Stockmar's words meticulously, like a 
school-girl repeating a lesson) 

VICTORIA 

It has long been my intention to retain Your Lord- 
ship and the rest of the Ministers at the head of 
affairs. 



20 Queen Victoria 



( The stately, elderly man bows again over 
her hand, kisses it, and is backing out, his 
eyes regarding her with curiosity. She 
catches his glance, sees it is kindly and be- 
nevolent, smiles in a shy, girlish, impulsive 
way, and takes a step toward him) 

Will you — will you be my friend? 

{He straightens, smiles) 

MELBOURNE 

May I be your friend? 

VICTORIA 
If you only would! I am somewhat afraid. 

MELBOURNE 
There is nothing to fear. 

VICTORIA 

I haven't had much — much practice in being a queen. 

MELBOURNE 

It is Providence, not practice, that makes a queen, 
Your Majesty. 

VICTORIA 

But practice and a nice prime minister will help, I 
am sure. 



Queen Victoria 21 



MELBOURNE 

I shall strive to be the nicest prime minister in the 
world. 

VICTORIA 

{Extending her hand) 

Oh, we will be the greatest friends. 

{He presses her hand and goes. She stands 
looking dreamily after him, the smile still 
on her face. The Duchess, Lehzen and 
Stockmar return) 

LEHZEN 

You had better dress now, Drina. 

DUCHESS 
(Snappily) 



Naturally ! 
Come, my dear. 



LEHZEN 



DUCHESS 

(Freezing the Governess) 

Come, Drina. 

(Victoria starts toward Lehzen, has an 
instant of doubt, and dutifully, like a little 
girl, goes with her mother) 



22 Queen Victoria 



VICTORIA 
Am I really and truly Queen, Mamma ? 

DUCHESS 

You see, my dear, that it is so. 

VICTORIA 

Then, dear Mamma, I hope you will grant me the 
first request I make to you as Queen. 

DUCHESS 

You can command now, my child. 

VICTORIA 

Then I will command that my bed be moved out of 
your room. 

{They go, the elder woman not at all 
pleased. Lehzen watches her charge af- 
fectionately. She and Stockmar speak 
with heavy Teutonic accents.) 

STOCKMAR 
Her first decision as Queen is sensible. 

LEHZEN 

{Indulging in one of her rare smiles) 
It is evident the Duchess will not rule England. 



Queen Victoria 23 



STOCKMAR 
No one but the Duchess ever supposed she would. 
{A pause) 

LEHZEN 

And so, Baron, it has come at last. Our pupil takes 
her place. 

STOCKMAR 

She sits upon the mightiest throne in the world. 

LEHZEN 

So young, so inexperienced! 

STOCKMAR 

But positive. An indiscreet person might call her 
stubborn. That will help her to gain experience. 

LEHZEN 

Quite the contrary. But it will help her not to be 
discouraged by her inexperience. Or indeed to 
realize it. 

STOCKMAR 

{Bowing) 

I marvel constantly at your wisdom, my dear Frau- 
lein. 



24 Queen Victoria 



LEHZEN 

We have given her an uberwaltigend sense of the 
dignity of her position. It is that will aid her most. 

STOCKMAR 
That — and us. 

LEHZEN 

She will still need us. 

STOCKMAR 

More than ever. My dear Fraulein, we must be 
cautious. 

LEHZEN 

Ah yes, cautious. 

STOCKMAR 

Lest our affection harm her. She will lean heavily 
upon us. 

LEHZEN 

Poor Duchess! 

STOCKMAR 

I fear her sun has set. 

LEHZEN 

Yes . . . 

STOCKMAR 

During these early years of her reign we two, whom 
she trusts and respects, must guide her. We shall 



Queen Victoria 25 



have to be very wise and most austere with ourselves. 
We must set aside our fondness for her and con- 
sider only our responsibility. 

LEHZEN 

It is great — our responsibility — to her, to England, 
to Germany. 

STOCKMAR 

Exactly. Only with our guidance can she rule Eng- 
land. 

LEHZEN 
And make a German marriage. 

STOCKMAR 

That is the first thing we must settle. 

( The Footman throws open the doors at 
the left with a grand flourish) 

LEHZEN 

Here are the councillors. 

STOCKMAR 

We had better advise her how to address tKem. 

(To the Footman) 
Arrange the room for Her Majesty. 

(They go out rear) 



26 Queen Victoria 



FOOTMAN 

{Announcing) 

His Grace, the Duke of Wellington. 

{The Duke, in full court costume, as are 
all the others, enters -pompously and bows 
with respect, but discovering that Victoria 
is not present, straightens and crosses to 
the windows) 

Viscount Melbourne; His Grace, the Archbishop of 
Canterbury; Lord Conyngham; Lord Palmerston. 

(Lord Palmerston is slightly over fifty, 
debonair, dashing, supremely confident, 
flamboyantly dressed, his whiskers obvi- 
ously dyed. No one speaks until they have 
all been announced and have entered. The 
Footman then places the largest chair in 
the centre and leaves the others against the 
walls. He exits rear) 

WELLINGTON 
I've heard she's wilful. 

MELBOURNE 

I don't know about that, but she's charmingly spon- 
taneous. 

ARCHBISHOP 

A child— a mere child. 



Queen Victoria 27 



CONYNGHAM 

When we addressed her she seemed frightened, like 
a little school-girl. 

PALMERSTON 

She would indeed be callous, were she not frightened 
when a Lord Chamberlain and an Archbishop invade 
her privacy at five in the morning. 



Really! 
Palmerston ! 



ARCHBISHOP, 



MELBOURNE 



PALMERSTON 



Your pardon, my lords. I am forever forgetting 
how anything bare shocks Church and State. Even 
the bare truth. 

WELLINGTON 

Have you ever had a decent thought, Palmerston? 

PALMERSTON 

Occasionally, but it is not necessary. Indecency is 
the normal state of man. In youth it is condoned; 
in age it is called worldly wisdom. 

CONYNGHAM 

{Ignoring him elaborately) 

I was saying that the Queen seemed frightened, like 
a little girl, this morning. 



28 Queen Victoria 



PALMERSTON 

Maybe just sleepy, Conyngham. One's eyes are 
singularly infantile when one is aroused at five 
o'clock in the morning. I myself do not appear 
altogether adult at that hour. 

{Crossing to Wellington) 

And you, my lord, — you also resemble a bewildered 
urchin when you first awake, I have no doubt. 

{The Duke turns with cold deliberation, 
stares at the younger man, his face impas- 
sive. He then re-turns to the window. 
Melbourne chuckles. Conyngham and 
the Archbishop are amused at Palmers- 
ton's effrontery. He is not in the least 
taken down by the great man 1 s snub. Con- 
tinuing} 

Yet there is a fine symbol in the Queen being aroused 
by Church and State to be informed of her glory 
and her duty just as the sun rises in the East. For 
the great glory of Queen Alexandrina Victoria will 
lie in the East. 

WELLINGTON 

{Sharply) 

Her glory and honor and duty will lie right on this 
island. 

PALMERSTON 

In the matter of prophecy the indomitable Duke of 
Wellington and the poorest cockney are equals. 



Queen Victoria 29 



MELBOURNE 

{To change the subject) 

Too bad Lord John Russell can't come to greet the 
new Queen. 

WELLINGTON 

Why can't he? 

PALMERSTON 

He danced till late with Lady Gay Hawthorn, and 
'tis said he must complete his dream of her. 

{Once more the Duke turns to stare at. the 
fellow , and re-turns to the window) 

MELBOURNE 

What dream has Peel that keeps him from the 
Council? 

PALMERSTON 

'Tis June, my lord, and Sir Robert must a-hunting 
go. All in green, they say, like Robin Hood — or 
a grasshopper. 

ARCHBISHOP, 

It's a scant gathering to welcome the new Queen ! 

PALMERSTON 
Scant in numbers. But in quality! 
{The Duke sneezes) 



30 Queen Victoria 

Ah, the great Duke of Wellington agrees with me 
at last! 

WELLINGTON 

Shut up ! 

PALMERSTON 

If His Grace would but deign to glance at me, he 
would discover that I am not a mere Napoleon to 
be banished by a frown. 

WELLINGTON 

I wish to God a word of mine might banish you 
to St. Helena or to Hell. 

CONYNGHAM 
Palmerston is impertinent. 

MELBOURNE 

He dares to be. God pity him if he were of a 
lesser family. 

ARCHBISHOP 

Ah yes. He knows full well that the Duke is the 
child and champion of aristocracy. 

MELBOURNE 

It takes courage even for an aristocrat to chaff the 
great victor of Waterloo. 

ARCHBISHOP 

I catch sarcasm in your tone, Lord Melbourne. 



Queen Victoria 31 



MELBOURNE 

Your Grace has a keen ear. 

WELLINGTON 
What is the hour, Melbourne? 

MELBOURNE 

I am sorry not to be able to inform Your Grace. 
I never carry a timepiece; I always ask the servant 
what o'clock it is, and then he tells me what he likes. 

CONYNGHAM 

It lacks twenty minutes of six o'clock, sir. 

(Wellington gazes out the window again) 

PALMERSTON 

I do hope Her Majesty outlasts my time. These 
early hours! 

{Yawns) 

CONYNGHAM 

It would have been considerate of His late Majesty 
to live a few hours longer. 

{Yawns) 
MELBOURNE 



Or several less. 

{Yawns) 



32 Queen Victoria 



Uh— h— h. 



ARCHBISHOP, 
(Yawning) 

MELBOURNE 



It is a difficult moment for a young girl to ascend 
the throne. The Irish question 



PALMERSTON 



The Irish question will always be with us. Only 
three people have ever really understood it — Castel- 
reagh who is dead, a German professor who has 
gone mad, and I who have forgotten. 



CONYNGHAM 



Her Majesty will be greatly aided in her difficulties 
by her youth and girlhood. The people will be 
enthusiastic about her. 

WELLINGTON 

Haven't you learned yet that you can trust nothing 
to the enthusiasm of the people? 

CONYNGHAM 

But her popularity will assist 



WELLINGTON 

Popularity is low and vulgar. 



Queen Victoria 33 



PALMERSTON 

Who should know better than the Duke of Welling- 
ton, the idol of two generations ! 

WELLINGTON 

What's she like, Melbourne? 

MELBOURNE 

A charming girl. 

WELLINGTON 

Damme, that's not what I want to know. What sort 
of a queen of England will she be? 

PALMERSTON 
His Grace mistakes you for a soothsayer. 

MELBOURNE 

She is clay, my lord, and events and her councillors 
will be the potter. She can be made anything or 
everything. 

PALMERSTON 
Or nothing? 

MELBOURNE 

She will be something. I have had but a brief inter- 
view with Her Majesty, but in those few moments 
I realized that she has character — will and perti- 
nacity. 



34 Queen Victoria 



PALMERSTON 

The regulation German virtues. 

(Yawns) 
When shall we be annexed by Coburg? 

archbishop 
Has she imagination? 

MELBOURNE 

I hope not. All of her line have been lost whenever 
they have not stood solidly on the ground. 

PALMERSTON 

Then she is but the four Georges in petticoats. 

MELBOURNE 

I did not say that. 

ARCHBISHOP, 

We shall see. 

( The Footman, gorgeous now, flings open 
the doors at the rear) 

FOOTMAN 

Her most excellent Majesty, Queen Alexandrina 
Victoria. 

(They all assume deeply respectful atti- 
tudes. The Queen enters, pale, nervous 



Queen Victoria 35 



— a girlish figure in deep mourning. She 
hesitates an instant, then moves to the 
chair at center and stands before it uncer- 
tainly. She sits bolt upright. A long si' 
lence. The Queen wishes she knew what 
to do. She makes as though to rise, but 
thinks better of it. She glances over her 
shoulder, hoping to see Stockmar or 
Lehzen. But the great doors are closed. 
As though guilty, she returns her gaze to 
the front. Another long silence, during 
which the men glance sidewise at each 
other) 



My lords. 



VICTORIA 
{In a weak, timid voice) 



{She swallows hard. They bow deeply. 
Again an uncomfortable silence. She 
speaks in a most stilted manner, as if the 
words had been learned by heart, as indeed 
they have been) 

Since it has pleased Providence to place me in this 
station, I shall do my utmost to fulfil my duty to- 
wards my country; I am very young, and perhaps 
in many things inexperienced, but few have more real 
good will and more real desire to do what is fit and 
right than I have. 

{A pause) 



36 Queen Victoria 



MELBOURNE 

{Advancing a step) 

All England welcomes your Majesty's accession to 
the throne with faith and confidence and rejoicing. 
Your Majesty's ministers have the inestimable privi- 
lege of being the servants and the instruments of 
the Queen. They bend their knees in reverence be- 
fore her greatness. She is the Symbol of England. 
What she is all loyal citizens will strive to become; 
to all the world she will stand as a model and an 
example 

VICTORIA 

{Murmuring to herself) 
Example! . . . 

MELBOURNE 

We pray Her most gracious Majesty to receive this 
document 

{He offers an impressive paper heavily sealed) 

VICTORIA 

{Frightened, awed, amazed) 

Example to all the world. . . 

{Automatically her hand reaches for the 
paper. Suddenly a band outside plays the 
national air. Startled, her hand drops. As 
the music proceeds Victoria is more and 



Queen Victoria 37 



more moved. She clutches the arms of her 
chair. Absolute silence until the music 
stops. She has risen) 

VICTORIA 

{With the simplicity and the fervor of a 
little girl praying) 

I will be good ! I will be good ! 

(Slowly she reaches her hand toward Mel- 
bourne for the paper, smiling mistily into 
his face) 



The Curtain Falls 



SECOND EPISODE 

Reception Room in Buckingham Palace 
October io, 1839 



SECOND EPISODE 

It is two years later, and almost twilight of the 
afternoon of October ioth, 1839. 

The room is an antechamber of Victoria's apart- 
ments in Buckingham Palace. On one side is a fine 
Georgian chimney piece, but with no fire in the grate. 
Conspicuous on this Georgian mantel are an ugly 
Empire clock, two Dresden china groups, and a quite 
terrible vase. Opposite are double doors, now closed. 
The furniture of the room is, in the main, Empire, 
and includes a clawfoot sofa of great beauty. But 
two or three rosewood chairs with seats upholstered 
in red have somehow insinuated themselves, and are 
standing about in haphazard fashion, and there is a 
rosewood table with what appear to be albums piled 
on a shelf across the stretchers, and a small rosewood 
square piano of the latest make. At an Empire tea 
table — at least, it is being used for tea — are seated 
the Duchess, Lehzen, and Victoria. It is pleasant 
to fancy that they are using a Bristol tea set. 

Lehzen is sprinkling caraway seeds, which she 
takes from a small package, meticulously over her 
muffin. The Queen is, alas, sitting bolt upright and 
gobbling like a hungry girl of humble and uncertain 
parentage. 

41 



42 Queen Victoria 



VICTORIA 
Lehzen, ring for more muffins, please. 

{Her voice is muffled by the food through 



which it must pass) 



LEHZEN 

Pardon? 

VICTORIA 

More muffins, please. 

LEHZEN 

Muffins? 

VICTORIA 

Yes, dear. 

{With a smile) 

You are growing deaf. 



LEHZEN 

Not yet, Drina. 

VICTORIA 
You don't hear well. 

LEHZEN 



I fear the fault is not mine. If you would eat slower 
and not try to talk with food in your mouth 



Queen Victoria 43 



DUCHESS 

{Interrupting her) 

You are constantly forgetting, Fraulein, that Drina 
is no longer your pupil. She is the Queen of Eng- 
land. 

LEHZEN 

All the more need to call attention to her little — 
shortcomings. 

DUCHESS 

The Queen can have no shortcomings. What she 
does sets the fashion. 

VICTORIA 

{Like a little girl to her school mistress) 
Do I eat badly, Lehzen ? 

LEHZEN 

You gobble, my dear. 

DUCHESS 

Drina, this is insufferable. If you gobble, then gob- 
bling is the correct way to eat. Besides, for a Queen 
of England to be dictated to by a woman with a posi- 
tive passion for caraway seeds 

{Addressing Lehzen r direct) 



44 Queen Victoria 



— in your soup, on your bread, your roast beef, and 
even dessert- — caraway seeds ! As if you were a 
canary. Your resemblance to a canary is really rather 
remote. 

(She smiles at her own wit. Lehzen 
merely purses her lips; and Victoria has 
not heard; she has been thinking over 
Lehzen's reproof) 

VICTORIA 
I must be more deliberate in taking food. 
(The Footman enters) 

LEHZEN 

Muffins. 

(He hows and is going) 

DUCHESS 
It is cold in here. Lay a fire. 

FOOTMAN 
Pardon, Your Grace, but that cannot be done. 

VICTORIA 
(Comfortably) 
Is the chimney faulty? 

FOOTMAN 

No, Your Majesty. 



Queen Victoria 45 



VICTORIA 

Then we will have a fire. 

FOOTMAN 

There is no one to lay it. 

DUCHESS 

Why can't you? 

FOOTMAN 

I am under the Lord Chamberlain, Your Grace. We 
light the. fires, but the Lord Steward lays them. 
There is a slight misunderstanding at present, the 
first since her Majesty's accession, between the Lord 
Chamberlain and the Lord Steward, so nothing in 
the way of fire can be done. 

DUCHESS 

This is intolerable. 

VICTORIA 

I think we ought to inquire into this. 

LEHZEN 

{To Footman) 

Does that explain why the windows are so coated 
with dust that we can scarcely see through them? 



46 Queen Victoria 



FOOTMAN 

Not exactly, Fraulein Lehzen. We, the Lord Cham- 
berlain, we clean the insides of the windows, but the 
outside is under the Office of Woods and Forests. 
I think Your Ladyship will find that you cannot see 
through the windows because of what's on the outside 
of the panes. 

{He shakes his head) 

Will that be all? 

LEHZEN 

Yes. 

VICTORIA 
I think I will not have more muffins. 

(Footman bows and goes out) 

LEHZEN 

But you have not had enough. 

DUCHESS 

The child is afraid to eat. 

VICTORIA 

I'm not afraid, Mamma. Thank you, Lehzen, for 
calling my attention to how I eat. I will watch my 

manners. 



Queen Victoria 47 



DUCHESS 

Why should you? The Fraulein is always on hand 
to watch them for you. 

VICTORIA 

It is really chillier in here than I thought. 

DUCHESS 

This state of affairs cannot be tolerated. You must 
speak to Lord Melbourne. 

LEHZEN 

The Prime Minister has no control over the organ- 
ization of the Household. 

VICTORIA 

A Queen ought to have a fire to keep warm. 

DUCHESS 

I shall speak to the Duke of Wellington ! 
(It is a trump) 

LEHZEN 

Even the mighty Duke is powerless to light a fire in 
the Royal apartments. 



48 Queen Victoria 



VICTORIA 

It's October now, and soon winter will come. 



LEHZEN 



Only an Act of Parliament can rearrange the House- 
hold affairs. 

VICTORIA 

I shall command the Prime Minister to take up the 
matter of a fire in my apartments in the House of 
Commons. 

(No one of the three sees anything ridic- 
ulous in this situation) 

DUCHESS 

That will require time. And meanwhile the atmos- 
phere will be cold when our Prince arrives. 

(Victoria frowns) 

Drina dear, I am going to remove that vase from the 
mantelpiece. 





VICTORIA 


Why? 






DUCHESS 


It is ugly. 






VICTORIA 


I like it. 





Queen Victoria 49 



DUCHESS 

It is French and does not go well with the German 
ornaments beside it. 

LEHZEN 

The clock is French, too. 

VICTORIA 

I am very partial to that vase, Mamma. 

DUCHESS 

Albert has a most delicate sense of fitness. The vase 
will be offensive to him. 

(She compromises — shoves the vase back) 

VICTORIA 

(Slowly) 

I do so wish Cousin Albert were not coming to visit 
me. 

LEHZEN 

(With unusual animation) 

That is because you have not seen him since you were 
a child. Never has there been a more admirable 
Prince. He is handsome as a god — tall and slender 
and refined. And in character absolutely upright. 
He has none of the young men's vices'. And so 
gemiithlich. 



50 Queen Victoria 



VICTORIA 
So you have told me often. 

LEHZEN 

Don't you remember how delighted you were, Drina, 
when your two cousins visited you several years ago? 
How happy you were, sitting between them on the 
sofa and looking through your album! You said it 
Was the greatest fun. 

VICTORIA 
{Smiling a little) 
It was. Albert is a very fine cousin. 

DUCHESS 

He will make a very fine husband. 

VICTORIA 
{Annoyed) 
I don't want a husband. 

DUCHESS 

You must marry someone, my dear. 
/ 

VICTORIA 
I don't want to marry anybody. 



Queen Victoria 51 



LEHZEN 

You wrote me after that visit of his, " Albert pos- 
sesses every quality that could be desired to render 
me perfectly happy." 

VICTORIA 

That was long ago. I was only a child. 

LEHZEN 

He will soon arrive and you will see 



VICTORIA 

I don't want to marry Albert — or anybody. 

FOOTMAN 

{Announcing) 
The Prime Minister, Viscount Melbourne. 
(Victoria^ face lights up) 

victoria 

{Delighted) 

Oh, Lord Melbourne ! 

{Her manner changes. She becomes the 
Queen ; she has been a girl being married 
off. With the hint of a flourish) 

Pray, leave me. 

{The two women go) 



52 Queen Victoria 



We will receive the Prime Minister. 

( The Footman opens the door and Mel- 
bourne enters) 

Oh, my friend. 

(He kisses her hand) 

How have you been? It is two days since I have 
seen you. 

MELBOURNE 

I have been occupied with Your Majesty's affairs. 

VICTORIA 

But you could have found a moment to call. I am 
so disturbed, my lord. 

MELBOURNE 

Disturbed, Your Majesty? 

VICTORIA 

Everybody involves me in things I would be free of. 

MELBOURNE 

Your Majesty is a Queen. 

VICTORIA 

I am also a woman. 



Queen Victoria 53 



MELBOURNE 



That is why I craved this audience. Prince Albert 
has arrived in London and will soon wait upon Your 
Majesty, so I hastened here to discuss certain details 
of the betrothal. 

VICTORIA 

Oh, how can you be so blunt! My lord, I like and 
admire my Cousin Albert very much, but I do not 
care to marry him. 

MELBOURNE 

{Blandly) 

Your Majesty has not seen the Prince in many years. 
He has grown into a man of unusual distinction, both 
physically and mentally. Indeed, Baron Stockmar 
says that his intellect is extraordinarily keen and well- 
ordered. He is handsome. 



VICTORIA 

His letters are most interesting. 

MELBOURNE 

One cannot imagine anyone more ideal for a husband. 

VICTORIA 
I am quite happy as I am. 



54 Queen Victoria 



MELBOURNE 



Pardon, Your Majesty. But you must see why it is 
impossible for you to remain as you are. 

VICTORIA 

I have a great repugnance, my lord, to changing my 
present condition. 

MELBOURNE 
{With some firmness) 
You will have to overcome your repugnance. 

VICTORIA 

I think we need not pursue the subject further. At 
present my feeling is quite against marrying anyone. 

MELBOURNE 

In that case, should anything happen to Your 
Majesty, your uncle, the Duke of Cumberland, now 
King of Hanover, would succeed to the throne. 

VICTORIA 

Oh that would be a calamity ! He is dreadful ! Hor- 
rible! 

MELBOURNE 

Yet he would be the next King of England unless 
your Majesty has an — unless there is an — er — heir. 



Queen Victoria 55 



VICTORIA 

{Shocked) 
My lord! 

{Averting her head. Mumbling) 

An heir — Cousin Albert. . . . 

{She shudders — a pause) 

MELBOURNE 

Your Majesty asked me to be her friend. 

VICTORIA 

I need you for a friend — now more than ever. 

MELBOURNE 

May I say that I comprehend the distaste such con- 
siderations must arouse in a young lady? Having 
to mention them, let me assure you, has required not 
a little effort. It is so delicate a subject to touch on. 
I understand your maidenly modesty. 

{A pause) 

But you are the Queen of England, and your duty 
is two-fold: You must rule and you must provide the 
— er — the next ruler. 

VICTORIA 

But, my lord, I feel I cannot. 



56 Queen Victoria 



MELBOURNE 

Then the Duke of Cumberland, in case of any mis- 
fortune to you 

VICTORIA 

Oh, no, no . . . My lord, if I should like my Cousin 
Albert I can make no final promise this year, for, at 
the very earliest any such event could not take place 
till two or three years hence. Lord Melbourne, must 
Albert come to-day? Couldn't his visit be postponed 
till some later time? 

MELBOURNE 

How could it be? He has probably already arrived 
at the Palace. What excuse could we make ? 



VICTORIA 

If I were ill? 

MELBOURNE 

The Queen of England will not stoop to subterfuge. 
{A long pause) 

VICTORIA 

It must be understood that there is no engagement 
between us. 

MELBOURNE 
Most certainly. 



Queen Victoria 57 



VICTORIA 

That must be quite clear. For I am very anxious 
that whatever eventuates I could not be considered 
guilty of any breach of promise, for I never gave 
any. 

MELBOURNE 

That is clearly understood. Between ourselves — 
friends — why has Your Majesty this disaffection for 
marriage? 

VICTORIA 

How can I look at him, knowing that I am expected 
to — that he is expected to — that we 

MELBOURNE 

Young people do look at each other knowing — er — 
er 

VICTORIA 

Not for love or marriage, but simply to provide — 
er — er 

(She blushes furiously. To relieve her em- 
barrassment, Melbourne coughs and 
averts his face. Victoria is thus able to 
get control of her maidenly modesty. In a 
small voice) 

I am still very young. 

MELBOURNE 

Not too young to rule a great empire. 



58 Queen Victoria 



VICTORIA 

Even a Queen may dream of love, my lord. 

MELBOURNE 

Oh, you have been reading that persuasive romancer, 
Walter Scott. 

VICTORIA 

This is no romantic idea, my lord. I am fully con- 
scious of my responsibilities. And that is why I want 
to learn to be a Queen before I learn to be a mo — 
er — a wife. 

MELBOURNE 

The first lesson will be easy for so apt a pupil. 
{A low bow) 

VICTORIA 
{Pleased) 



You flatter, my lord. 

MELBOURNE 

And as for the second — learning to be Albert's wife 
— I fancy when you see him 



VICTORIA 



'(Drawing herself up haughtily. Already 
she has learned much about being a Queen) 

The whole subject, my lord, is an odious one. 

(Stockmar enters) 



Queen Victoria 59 



STOCKMAR 

Pardon, Your Majesty, for thus intruding. But 
Prince Albert attends. 

{She becomes the flustered girl again. 
Melbourne recedes into the background, 
watching her anxiously. He starts to put 
in a word now and then, but thinks better 
of it) 

VICTORIA 

Not yet, Stockmar. I am — I am not — ready. 

STOCKMAR 

The Prince is in the anteroom. 

VICTORIA 
But I can y t see him now. 

(Lehzen enters) 

STOCKMAR 

The Prince would be somewhat hurt to be kept wait- 
ing. 

VICTORIA 

Show him over the Palace. I shall meet him at 
dinner to-night. 

lehzen 



Drina, it is your duty. 



6o Queen Victoria 



VICTORIA 
I can't look at him. 

STOCKMAR 

Your Majesty is the head of the State. 

VICTORIA 
I shall abhor him. 

LEHZEN 

Only imagination, my dear. 

VICTORIA 
How could it be otherwise ? 

STOCKMAR 

This is an affair of State. The Queen must consider 
only her duty. 

( This is spoken impressively, and it has its 
effect) 

VICTORIA 
Stay with me, Lehzen. 

LEHZEN 

(Relieved that the victory is won) 

Now, my dear, you are not going to falter in your 



duty. 



Queen Victoria 61 



VICTORIA 
What can I say to him ? 

LEHZEN 

He is your cousin. Receive him in true cousinly 
fashion. 

VICTORIA 

I shall be so embarrassed knowing that he knows that 
I — that he — that we 

LEHZEN 

You will be brave. 

{She and Stockmar exeunt. Melbourne 
is following) 

VICTORIA 

You will remain, Lord Melbourne. 

MELBOURNE 

Your Majesty! 

VICTORIA 

Stockmar said this is an affair of State. 

MELBOURNE 

It is a great affair of State and must therefore be 
transacted in private behind guarded doors. 



62 Queen Victoria 



VICTORIA 
How awful ! A transaction ! 

MELBOURNE 
My word was unfortunate. 

VICTORIA 
You could remain over there — in the shadows. 

MELBOURNE 

That would scarcely be fair to the Prince. 

VICTORIA 

Think oi me! 

MELBOURNE 

Your Majesty will have to be alone with him sooner 
or later. 

VICTORIA 

{Shuddering) 

Oh, I do wish I did not have to see him ever. 

(Melbourne goes. She is unpleasantly 
agitated. Her face is contorted in an ex- 
pression of repugnance and maidenly ter- 
ror. She watches the door through which 
the guest is to come with fascinated fear. 
It opens, Albert enters, it closes. He is 
twenty; in full uniform. Looking beyond 



Queen Victoria 63 



him she draws herself up primly, with 
dignity. He hows with stiff, elaborate 
punctiliousness. She extends her hand — he 
kisses it. A long pause) 

We are pleased to welcome you. 

ALBERT 
{With a heavy accent) 
Your Majesty is gracious. 

VICTORIA 
I trust you had a pleasant journey. 

ALBERT 

Most pleasant. The landscapes were beautiful in 
their autumn colorings. 

VICTORIA 

I trust your parents, our aunt and uncle, are enjoying 
good health. 

ALBERT 

I am happy to state that they are in excellent health. 

VICTORIA 

And our Uncle Leopold of Belgium? 



64 Queen Victoria 



ALBERT 

He is also very well and contented. 

( The conversation lags. The Queen main- 
tains her prim dignity. The Prince re- 
gards her calmly, penetratingly, but she has 
not really looked at him. The silence be- 
comes uncomfortable) 

Ah, Your Majesty is fond of the china ornaments 
from Dresden. 

VICTORIA 

They are most pretty. 

{He goes to the mantel where the orna- 
ments are not strictly aligned. He aligns 
them) 

ALBERT 

They are subtly made, Dresden china ornaments. It 
is miraculous how so many can be manufactured and 
yet the beauty of each one be conserved. 

(She steals glances at his back, and un- 
bends perceptibly) 

In the year 1837, — 5,461 pieces were fabricated in 
Dresden. 

VICTORIA 

Wonderful! 

(She really thinks so) 



Queen Victoria 65 



ALBERT 
Last year, 1838, they manufactured 6,003 P^ces. 

VICTORIA 

How can they? 

ALBERT 
German workmen perform miracles. 

VICTORIA 
So I have been told many times. 

ALBERT 

Ah, this is nice. 

{The vase) 

VICTORIA 
Do you like it? 

ALBERT 

Very much. Very much, indeed. 

{She claps her hands and bounces on her 
chair — a little girl proved right. All stiff- 
ness disappears. Albert has justified her 
and her taste. She goes upstage to him) 

VICTORIA 

We seem to have the same taste. I love the clock, 
too. 

{It is incredibly ornate) 



66 Queen Victoria 



ALBERT 

One learns to love things that are near. 

(The conversation dies again. He places 
the tongs on the opposite side of the fire- 
place from the shovel, comes down from 
the mantel, and during the next few 
speeches places the chairs in a stiff line) 

VICTORIA 
We go to Windsor to-morrow for the day. 

ALBERT 

That will be most pleasant. 

(Once more the deadly silence. But she 
has been watching him ordering the chairs 
with interest — in him, not in the chairs) 

VICTORIA 
(Suddenly the young girl) 
This is not at all what I expected. 

ALBERT 

No? 

VICTORIA 

I thought you would be — different. 



Queen Victoria 67 



ALBERT 
{After all, he is only twenty) 
I was afraid to form a picture of you. 

VICTORIA 
Why? 

ALBERT 

Because you were sure to be unlike the picture and 
then I — would have to adjust myself to the reality. 

VICTORIA 

Are you disappointed? 

ALBERT 
{Smiling) 
That is a question / should ask. 

VICTORIA 

It would not be proper for a young girl to say what 
she thinks. 

ALBERT 
So terrible as that! 

VICTORIA 

{Confused) 

Oh, I didn't mean it that way at all. I meant to 
say — I meant that a young girl must never betray 
her feelings. 



68 Queen Victoria 



ALBERT 
But between cousins. 

VICTORIA 

We are cousins, but we don't really know each other 
yet. 

ALBERT 

How could we? We have met only once before this. 

VICTORIA 

Oh, that was a fine visit you and your brother, Ernest, 
made to us. How is Cousin Ernest? 

ALBERT 

He has developed rapidly. 

VICTORIA 

We were all mere children when you were here be- 
fore. You and Cousin Ernest wore knickerbockers, 
and I was still in pinafores. 

ALBERT 

Kensington Palace was so orderly. 

{He has finished with the chairs) 

VICTORIA 

Do you remember what fun we had sitting on the 
sofa, I in the middle, between you and Cousin Ernest, 
looking through my album ? 



Queen Victoria 69 



ALBERT 



Oh, I shall never forget that album. Ernest and I 
have often spoken of it. 



VICTORIA 

It's grown, like you and Ernest and me. It is no 
longer an album — it is albums. Would you like to 
see the last one? 

ALBERT 

Oh, yes. 

(She takes it from the under shelf of the 
table. He pushes a chair toward her) 



VICTORIA 

Oh, no — on the sofa as before. 

(He puts the chair back on the same spot 
from which he had moved it) 

Sit here beside me. 

ALBERT 
Who is that? 

VICTORIA 

Madame de Spaech. She was one of my governesses. 
She had this miniature made just for me. 



70 Queen Victoria 



ALBERT 

Oh, here you are in your coronation robes. We have 
a picture like it at home in Coburg. 

VICTORIA 
In oils, but this is only watercolors. 

ALBERT 
(As playful as he can be) 
You conferred it upon us. 

VICTORIA 

Where do you keep it? 

ALBERT 
In mother's drawing-room. 

VICTORIA 
(Disappointed) 

Oh. . . . This is the way I really looked at the time 
of my coronation. 

ALBERT 

(Regarding the picture and then the real- 
ity) 

You have changed. 

VICTORIA 

How? 



Queen Victoria 71 



ALBERT 
For the better — a thousand times better. 

VICTORIA 

{Squeezing his hand impulsively) 

I'm so glad you think so. Look — look at this. You 
and me — at Kensington, when you were here before. 
Lord Ashley drew it. Oh, I'm so funny. 

ALBERT 
And I. So stern and upright. 

VICTORIA 

You are still — severe. 

ALBERT 
{He is a very young man) 
Do I really impress you as severe? 

VICTORIA 

O-o-oh, terribly. 

{They laugh heartily. Stockmar dis- 
covers them so. Delighted, he is slipping 
out when Albert espies him) 



72 Queen Victoria 



ALBERT 
My Stockmar! 

{Runs to him arid they embrace) 

When am I going to see you? I must talk to you. 
To-night, Stockmar? 

STOCKMAR 

The Queen has commanded a concert in your honor 
to-night. 

ALBERT 
Then when can I talk to you alone ? 

STOCKMAR 
We will find a time. 

ALBERT 

But there are so many things you must advise me 
about; so many questions to ask you, such vital affairs 
to discuss with you. 

STOCKMAR 

{Pleasantly) 
Will there ever be time enough? 



ALBERT 

Never. 



Queen Victoria 73 



STOCKMAR 



If Her Majesty would consent to dismiss you now, 
there are a few minutes before dinner. 

{He looks at Victoria.) 



victoria 
Until to-night, Cousin Albert. 

{He bows and goes out, his arm in Stock- 
mar's. The Queen calls) 

Lehzen ! Lehzen ! 

(Lehzen enters instantly) 
I will wear white to-night, Lehzen. 

{The governess bows and is about to de- 
part) 

He has a beautiful nose and eyes, Lehzen 

(Lehzen is delighted) 

LEHZEN 

{In going to Victoria she moves a chair 
out of the way) 

My darling. . . . 

VICTORIA 

A mouth beautifully formed. 



74 Queen Victoria 



LEHZEN 
I knew when you saw him 



(She breaks off, not wishing to force the 
Queen's mood) 

White, you said? 

VICTORIA 
White — all white — shoes and everything. 



LEHZEN 

Like a bride. 

VICTORIA 
(A bashful girl, blushing furiously) 
Oh, Lehzen! 

(But Lehzen has gone. Victoria goes 
to the mantel, puts the vase in the exact 
center, in front of the clock. She replaces 
the chair the Frdulein has moved, on the 
exact spot Albert chose for it. Then she 
goes upstage and squints down the line. 
She moves the chair a trifle; squints down 
her finger to make sure it is as Albert 
left it) 

The Curtain Falls 



THIRD EPISODE 

Reception Room in Buckingham Palace 
October ii, 1839 



THIRD EPISODE 

The scene is the same as that of the Second Epi- 
sode. 

It is the evening of October 1 1, 183Q. The double 
doors on the left, which remained closed during the 
preceding episode except to admit the FOOTMAN, are 
thrown open as the curtain rises. 

Through them may be seen a dinner table. Sitting 
around it are Victoria, Albert, The Duke of 
Wellington, The Duchess of Kent, Lord Pal- 
merston, Lady Gay Hawthorn, William Ewart 
Gladstone, Fraulein Lehzen and Viscount 
Melbourne. The Queen rises; so do the others. 
The men stand back to permit the ladies to pass in 
front of them into the room which is the stage. The 
doors are closed behind the ladies, who enter in a 
dignified procession. The Queen sits bolt upright. 
The others do likewise. A dreadful ceremonial 
silence. 

duchess 

The Prince and Mr. Gladstone were quite interested 
in each other. 

LADY GAY 

{A flapper of her time) 

They are not unlike. 

77 



78 Queen Victoria 



(It is evident that the type bores her. But 
her companions do not catch the slur in 
her words) 

Both good. 

LEHZEN 

Both God-fearing, orderly and conscientious. 



VICTORIA 

I adore order. 

(She sighs. The others sigh in sympathy) 



LEHZEN 

You have known Mr. Gladstone for some time, have 
you not, Lady Gay? 

LADY GAY 

Oh, always. The Gladstones and the Hawthorns 
have always been neighbors. I admire Mr. Glad- 
stone, but I prefer men with dash. If Lord Pal- 
merston were younger! 

LEHZEN 

Mr. Gladstone is much older than you. 

LADY GAY 

Oh yes — much. He is thirty! In our part of the 
country we think him quite remarkable! Under- 
Secretary for the Colonies at twenty-six! 



Queen Victoria 79 



LEHZEN 
Remarkable. Quite remarkable. 

VICTORIA 

{Automatically . Her mind is with Albert) 
Quite remarkable. 

LADY GAY 

He took his seat in the House at twenty-four. 



DUCHESS 

Wonderful! 

VICTORIA 

Wonderful. 

{Her inattention becomes apparent. A 
dull silence. The ladies look at her y and 
she is looking into a dream. They fear to 
interrupt her meditation) 



DUCHESS 
{At length) 
I think I will have the whist table made ready. 

VICTORIA 
{Aroused. Horrified) 
The whist table ! Mamma ! 



8o Queen Victoria 



DUCHESS 
Well, why not? 

VICTORIA 

It isn't proper to make the whist table ready before 
the gentlemen come. 

DUCHESS 
They will be forever over their wine. 

VICTORIA 
There must always be the reception before whist. 

DUCHESS 

I do not care to wait. 

VICTORIA 
But you must wait, mamma. It is etiquette. 

DUCHESS 
(She is a radical) 
Then etiquette should be changed. 

VICTORIA 
(She should he shocked, but she isn't) 
I have been considering that. 



Queen Victoria 81 



LEHZEN 
My dear Drina! 

{Another silence) 

DUCHESS 

{Ungraciously) 
Would you care to see the Queen's album? 

LADY GAY 

Oh, I should be overwhelmed by the honor. 

{She is faintly ironic, and joins the Duch- 
ess at the table. Victoria beckons the 
Fkaulein to her) 

VICTORIA 

( Taking the Fraulein's hand. In an un- 
dertone) 

Were ever such delicate mustachios, Lehzen? 

LEHZEN 

He is beautiful. 

VICTORIA 
How enchanting his slight, but very slight, whiskers ! 

LEHZEN 

Ah, my dear, I knew, once you had set eyes upon 
him 



82 Queen Victoria 



VICTORIA 

{Continuing her own thought) 

Was there ever a finer figure ! Broad and powerful 
in the shoulders, so slender and lithe in the waist ! 

LEHZEN 

Did you notice how he interested the table with his 
account of the method employed in filing State papers 
in Coburg? 

VICTORIA 

The most princely bearing in the whole world. . . . 

{Arousing herself) 

They are overlong, Lehzen. 

LEHZEN 

It is but a moment since we left them. 

VICTORIA 

Even a moment is overlong — tonight. 

LEHZEN 

Ah, my dear Drina, impatient. 

{She is as waggish as she can he) 

VICTORIA 

Lady Gay Hawthorn is genteel. 



Queen Victoria 83 



LEHZEN 

Oh very. And sprightly too. 

VICTORIA 

I think she will make a suitable Lady of the Bed- 
chamber. 

LEHZEN 

She has good humor. 

VICTORIA 

I shall mention her name to Lord Melbourne. Pray 
ask him to step here. 

LEHZEN 

The nomination can wait, Drina. 

VICTORIA 

I do not wish to see him for that. I desire the 
gentlemen to join us. 

LEHZEN 

It is customary for the gentlemen to linger over 
their wine. 

VICTORIA 

My precious Lehzen, will you have the goodness 
to sound the bell? 

(Fraulein Lehzen obeys and returns to 
her) 



84 Queen Victoria 



So vivacious at dinner. Did you remark his anima- 
tion when he was telling Lord Melbourne the num- 
ber of acres under cultivation in Coburg? 

{The Footman enters) 

Ask Lord Melbourne to step here. 

{He goes out) 

And so amazingly well informed! How he aston- 
ished Lord Palmerston by his knowledge of the 
annual output of the Manchester mills ! 

(Viscount Melbourne enters) 

MELBOURNE 

Your Majesty sent for me? 

{She waves Lehzen away. The FraU- 
LEIN joins the other two ladies at the table. 
They cease to look at the album and listen 
intently ) 

VICTORIA 
We desire the gentlemen to attend us. 



MELBOURNE 

Your Majesty! 

{He is astonished) 



VICTORIA 
Pray, why not? 



Queen Victoria 85 



MELBOURNE 

We have scarcely had time to accustom ourselves 
to the rare flavor of the port wine. 

VICTORIA 

{Descending from the lofty manner in 
which she has thus far addressed Mel- 
bourne) 

I daresay you have all had sufficient. 

MELBOURNE 

The decanters are at least half full yet. 

VICTORIA 

{Impatiently) 

I consider heavy drinking after dinner a horrid 
custom. 

MELBOURNE 

Nevertheless, Your Majesty, it is a custom. 

VICTORIA 

It is a custom which were better ended. 

MELBOURNE 

Everywhere in the civilized world gentlemen linger 
over their wine after dinner. 



86 Queen Victoria 



VICTORIA 
I daresay. 

MELBOURNE 

It is a convention as fixed as the order in which the 
several courses are served. 



VICTORIA 

I am well aware of that. 

MELBOURNE 

Then, Your Majesty 

VICTORIA 

I won't permit it, Lord Melbourne. Especially not 
tonight. 

MELBOURNE 

Pardon my presumption. But it is necessary to re- 
mind Your Majesty that it is especially important 
tonight that all the conventions of social custom be 
observed. The Prince 

VICTORIA 

The Prince without doubt is impatient to join us here. 

MELBOURNE 

He is discussing with Mr. Gladstone 



Queen Victoria 87 



VICTORIA 

My lord, we desire the gentlemen to come to us. 

(Melbourne hesitates a moment, bows, 
and goes back to dining room) 

LADY GAY 

(Horrified. Addressing no one) 

She will make drunkennesss unfashionable ! 

(Albert enters, followed by Mel- 
bourne, Wellington, Palmerston, 
and Gladstone. The latter is a young 
man, mature and staid and measured. The 
Footman closes the doors behind them. 
The men form in line to go through the 
reception ritual; the three ladies come 
downstage) 

VICTORIA 

Have you been riding today, Lord Melbourne? 

MELBOURNE 

I took a turn in the Park. 

VICTORIA 

It was a fine day. 

MELBOURNE 

Oh, a very fine day. 



88 Queen Victoria 



VICTORIA 
A bit fresh as twilight approached. 

MELBOURNE 

It was somewhat sharp. 

{A pause) 
Has Your Majesty been riding today? 

VICTORIA 

{With animation) 
Oh, yes, a very long ride with Prince Albert. 

MELBOURNE 

I hope the Prince was provided with a good mount. 

VICTORIA 

Oh, a very good mount. 

(Melbourne stands a moment uncom- 
fortably. The Queen smiles, inclines her 
head, and he passes on. Wellington 
comes next) 

Has Your Grace been riding today? 

WELLINGTON 

No, ma'am, I have not. 



Queen Victoria 89 



VICTORIA 
It was a fine day for riding. 

WELLINGTON 

Yes, ma'am, a very fine day. 

VICTORIA 

It was somewhat damp, though. 

WELLINGTON 

It was rather damp, ma'am. 

VICTORIA 

The Duchess is travelling on the Continent, I be- 
lieve? 

WELLINGTON 
She's in Vienna, now. 

VICTORIA 

The Duchess rides, does she not? 

WELLINGTON 
She does ride sometimes, ma'am. 

VICTORIA 
Has she a nice horse? 



go Queen Victoria 



WELLINGTON 

A thoroughbred. By Waterdale out of Hester. 



My lord 



VICTORIA 

{Shocked) 



WELLINGTON 

Her mare is carrying a colt now, by Spitfire. 

VICTORIA 

My lord, you forget yourself. 

{She is drawn up to her full indignant 
height. The Duke grows surly. He 
growls) 

WELLINGTON 

Well, ma'am, you asked. 

{She turns from him pointedly to Glad- 
stone. Wellington angrily stamps over 
to the Duchess) 

Damme, what's the harm in saying a horse was born 
and had a sire and a dam and is going to have a 
colt? They don't come from heaven like angels. 

VICTORIA 
Do you ride, Mr. Gladstone? 



Queen Victoria 91 



GLADSTONE 

Very seldom, Your Majesty. 

VICTORIA 
Have you been riding today? 

GLADSTONE 

Not today, Your Majesty. 

VICTORIA 
It was a fine day for riding. 

GLADSTONE 

A very fine day. 

VICTORIA 

Does Mrs. Gladstone ride? 

GLADSTONE 

About as often as I do, Your Majesty. 

VICTORIA 

Did Mrs. Gladstone ride today? 

GLADSTONE 

I believe not. 

{A pause) 

Has Your Majesty been riding today? 



92 Queen Victoria 



VICTORIA 

Oh yes. A very long ride with Prince Albert. 

GLADSTONE 

Has Your Majesty got a nice horse? 

VICTORIA 
Oh, a very nice horse. 

(She smiles, inclines her head, and he is 
free to retreat. It is now Palmerston's 
turn) 

Have you been riding today, Lord Palmerston? 

PALMERSTON 

I have been occupied in the Committee on Indian 
Affairs today. 

VICTORIA 

You are interested in Eastern questions, my lord? 

PALMERSTON 

Every man in public life must be. England's future 
lies in the East. 

ALBERT 

(Who throughout this scene has been con- 
versing with Fraulein Lehzen nearby) 

England's future will lie in England. 



Queen Victoria 93 



PALMERSTON 

Her glory, perhaps. But her commercial future- 



ALBERT 

Even her commercial future lies at home. In that 
respect she is unlike Germany. My country, being 
the passage to the East, will control the routes and 
therefore the commerce of the East. 

PALMERSTON 

There may be other routes. 

ALBERT 

Long and perilous. 

PALMERSTON 

Not for us. Englishmen have ever found the seas 
safe and sure. We have made them so. 

ALBERT 

But all the way around Africa 



PALMERSTON 

Oh, we shall not always have to sail around Africa 
to reach the Orient by water. 

ALBERT 

How else will you arrive? 



94 Queen Victoria 



VICTORIA 

You were saying you did not ride today, Lord 
Palmerston ? 

PALMERSTON 

(To Albert) 
Narrow necks of land may be cut. And will be. 

VICTORIA 

You should have taken a canter on such a fine day. 

(Albert gives up) 
You do ride, don't you? 

ALBERT 

(Sotto voce to Fraulein Lehzen) 

I do not trust that noble lord. 

(Victoria has followed his every move- 
ment with her eyes. But a ritual is a ritual f 
and she goes through with it pluckily — 
and solemnly) 

PALMERSTON 

I seldom ride anything except the perilous political 
waves of Your Majesty's government. 

VICTORIA 

How you twist things ! I was referring to horseback 
riding. 



Queen Victoria 95 



PALMERSTON 

I surmised as much. 

VICTORIA 

Then pray, sir, why did you not answer my question? 

PALMERSTON 

{With a sweeping bow, the irony of which 
entirely escapes his sovereign) 

Because the Queen does not require my poor re- 
sponses in order to be informed. 

VICTORIA 

Law, sir, your courtliness is more French than 
English. 

PALMERSTON 

And yet no one in Your Majesty's realm is more 
English than I. 

VICTORIA 

There are those who will not agree with you. 

PALMERSTON 

I am the very type of Englishman. 

VICTORIA 

I should like to believe it so — for the sake of my 
people. 



96 Queen Victoria 



PALMERSTON 

Your Majesty is too gracious. 

VICTORIA 

But you are above the average — far, far above. 
Few have risen so high as you. 

PALMERSTON 

In that respect I am, perhaps, exceptional. But I 
assure Your Majesty that in all else I am a thorough 
Englishman, 

VICTORIA 

{Playfully) 
What is a thorough Englishman, my lord? 

PALMERSTON 

One who spends his 'twenties resisting temptation 
and the rest of his life regretting it. 

VICTORIA 

{Shocked) 
My lord ! 

{She is more than shocked. But the rest 
of the company is pleased with the epi- 
gram. They laugh, Lady Gay somewhat 
too merrily. Even Gladstone smiles, and 
Albert does likewise, until he sees the 



Queen Victoria 97 



Queen's expression — then the smile van- 
ishes) 

DUCHESS 

You have wit, my lord. 

LADY GAY 

Lord Palmerston is the greatest epigrammatist in 
England. 

PALMERSTON 

You flatter me, Lady Gay. But I happen to know 
one who is unrivalled. 

DUCHESS 

Who? 

WELLINGTON 

What's his name? 

PALMERSTON 

It's a woman. 

LADY GAY 

A woman ! 

MELBOURNE 

Who is she? 

LEHZEN 
An Englishwoman ? 

(Palmerston nods) 

DUCHESS 
Tell us her name? 



Queen Victoria 



LADY GAY 

Oh do, Lord Palmerston. 



WELLINGTON 
Out with it. 

GLADSTONE 

I had thought English wit had gone into a decline 
since the great Eighteenth Century. 



PALMERSTON 

Then you have never heard of Lady Flora Hastings. 
{General laughter) 

VICTORIA 

Oh, you have revealed her name. 

MELBOURNE 

Trapped. 

WELLINGTON 

You're not so adroit as you're reputed to be. 

LADY GAY 

Is she so clever? 

GLADSTONE 
Lady Flora Hastings is quite bright. 



Queen Victoria 99 



DUCHESS 

I have never found her witty. 

PALMERSTON 

Oh, then Your Grace has not heard what she said 
to the old Duke of Leicester last week. 

VICTORIA 
What did she say? 

LADY GAY 

Yes, what, Lord Palmerston? 

PALMERSTON 

The Duke asked Lady Flora whether she would 
prefer Lord Burton or Sir Oliver Randall as a hus- 
band, and she responded, "I would prefer to be 
married to Lord Burton, but in the first year to 
elope with Sir Oliver." 

( The company laughs heartily. The 
Queen's lips make a thin line, and her 
voice cuts through the merriment like an 
electric chisel) 

VICTORIA 

We are not amused. 

{A dull, dead silence. The transforma- 
tion is so sharp that the laughter remains 
on the faces of some of the company) 



ioo Queen Victoria 



DUCHESS 

{Finally) 
It is sultry tonight. 

{Her effort at bringing life back into the 
party fails. The silence continues for 
another oppressive moment) 

I think I will have the whist tables made ready. 

{A general sigh of relief, followed by chatter) 

MELBOURNE 

I am a poor player. 

LADY GAY 
It is a fascinating game — whist. So dashing. 

LEHZEN 
We play it differently in Germany. 

GLADSTONE 
One can pass a pleasant hour over whist. 

WELLINGTON 
Who will be my partner? 

PALMERSTON 

In all the world there is none worthy of such an 
honor. To be the partner at whist of the great 



Queen Victoria 101 



Duke of Wellington, the victor of Waterloo, is 
renown beyond dreams of renown; it ensures im- 
mortality. 

WELLINGTON 



Look here, Palmerston, tone your pleasantries- 



VICTORIA 

The man who has saved Europe cannot be touched 
by ridicule. 

{Again the oppressive silence) 

DUCHESS 

{She has rung; the Footman opens the 
rear doors) 

The tables are ready. 

{They go out. FraULEIN Lehzen pre- 
cedes Albert and closes the doors behind 
her as he, uncertain what to do, has taken 
a step towards them. He comes slowly 
downstage to where Victoria sits, watch- 
ing him out of the corners of her eyes as 
she arranges her flounces. She sits ex- 
pectantly. As he reaches her, he hesitates, 
goes to the windows and opens one, 
slightly) 

ALBERT 

It is sehr schon tonight. 

VICTORIA 
As gentle as spring. 



102 Queen Victoria 



ALBERT 

It would be most pleasant in the garden. 

VICTORIA 

Oh, it would be heavenly! 

ALBERT 

If we should take a promenade? 

VICTORIA 

I would love to. 

ALBERT 

(With a gesture exaggerated, as playful as 
it is possible for him to be) 

Then come. 

VICTORIA 

Do you think it would be quite proper? 

ALBERT 

Oh, no. I beg your pardon. 

(A pause) 

VICTORIA 

Before you came I wondered what you were like, 
Cousin Albert. 



Queen Victoria 103 



ALBERT 
Am I — have I — disappointed you ? 

VICTORIA 

Not at all. 

{Feeling this insufficient) 
Not at all 

{A pause) 

It looks as though Mamma had plotted to leave us 
alone together. 

{A nervous laugh) 

ALBERT 

Shall I call them back ? 

VICTORIA 

{Amused at his obtuseness and not pleased 
that he doesn } t seize the opportunity she 
offers ) 

I am very glad we are alone together, for I think 
we ought to try to become well acquainted with each 
other. 

ALBERT 

Ah, that would be most agreeable. 
{Again a pause) 

VICTORIA 

{Coyly) 
Perhaps I, too, connived at getting rid of our guests. 



104 Queen Victoria 



ALBERT 
You wanted to be alone with me ! 

VICTORIA 

(She thinks that now he is going to do ih 
A bit too eagerly) 

Yes — oh yes. 

(He says nothing) 
Yes. 

ALBERT 
(Bowing from the hips) 
Gracious Cousin. 

VICTORIA 
(Irritated) 
That was the — er — the object of your visit. 
(She is taken aback by her own boldness) 

ALBERT 

I concurred heartily in the plan, for I think members 
of the same family — especially a ruling family — 
should learn to know each other. 

VICTORIA 

(A click of impatience) 
Tsct! 



Queen Victoria 105 



ALBERT 

Pardon? 

VICTORIA 

Nothing. 

{She reaches up to pat her hair, and her 
handkerchief falls from her lap to the 
floor. He picks it up, and impetuously 
kisses the hand that receives it. Her other 
hand springs to touch his bowed head, but 
she restrains it. Weakly) 

Thank you. 

{A moment he looks into her eyes. She 
flutters breathlessly. He turns sharply to 
the mantel, and aligns the ornaments. She 
follows him) 

I am so glad you came to England. 

ALBERT 

Even when you recall why I was invited to England? 

VICTORIA 

{Feebly) 
Even then. 

ALBERT 

{Bracing himself and speaking with stiff 
formality) 

It would confer the greatest honor upon me if you 
would consent to what Stockmar — I mean, our 
ministers, desire. 



106 Queen Victoria 

{Her head droops, her hands fold in front 
of her) 

VICTORIA 

It would make me too happy. 

{He is uncomfortable, wants to embrace 
her, is not sure it is the proper thing to do. 
Her head still drooping, she peeks up at 
him, but he does not see. She is in a com- 
pletely receptive position) 



Victoria, I — I- 

Yes, Albert? 
I— I 



ALBERT 



VICTORIA 



ALBERT 



{He gives up, and seeks refuge at the 
piano, striking a tentative and tinkly chord 
or two, and then, looking bravely at her 
as he is ironically reenforced by that foe of 
German monarchs who wrote the song, he 
sings — "Du Bist wie eine Blume!' In the 
midst of the song Victoria, who has come 
to his side and has been listening enrap- 
tured and trying to hum with him, puts her 
hand upon his shoulder. He springs up 
and embraces her, murmuring) 

My little English mayflower ! 



Queen Victoria 107 



VICTORIA 
{Her arms go round him) 
Oh, Albert, I am quite unworthy of you. 

ALBERT 
I will be very happy das Leben mit dir zu zubringen. 

VICTORIA 

Oh, Albert, before I saw you, the very idea of mar- 
rying was odious to me, and now I am too happy. 

{They kiss. Fraulein Lehzen enters. 
They separate, but she has seen and is 
overjoyed) 

LEHZEN 

Lord Palmerston is chaffing the Duke again. You 
had better make peace. Drina. 

VICTORIA 

Yes — yes. Oh, no — I could not reprimand anybody 
now. Albert, my love, will you reprimand Lord 
Palmerston? I want to see Lord Melbourne. 

( They embrace again, and he follows 
Fraulein Lehzen out. Victoria blows 
kisses at the closed door. Melbourne 
enters. She goes toward him impulsively, 
almost runs) 

Oh, Lord Melbourne, the most enchanting thing has 
happened! 



108 Queen Victoria 



MELBOURNE 

Your Majesty? 

VICTORIA 

He — Albert — I — we 

MELBOURNE 

(Tenderly) 
Yes? 

VICTORIA 
We — we — Albert is the most — we lo- 



(She cannot pour forth her ecstasy. She 
stops. A pause) 

MELBOURNE 

You and the Prince? 

VICTORIA 

We — I — he — The weather is quite damp for this 
season of the year. 

MELBOURNE 

Quite. 

VICTORIA 

I have recently had a letter from Uncle Leopold 
of Belgium. 

MELBOURNE 

I trust he is well. 



Queen Victoria 109 



VICTORIA 

Quite. 

{Another pause. Victoria is extremely 
elated, nervous, excited. Finally she blurts 
out) 

I have got well through this with Albert. 

MELBOURNE 

{Who has known all along what she 
wanted to tell htm) 

Oh! You have! 



INTERMISSION 



FOURTH EPISODE 

Reception Room in Buckingham Palace 
January, 1854 



FOURTH EPISODE 

// is January, 1854. 

The room is the same as in the preceding episode 
— at least, the walls and woodwork are the same; but 
even the Georgian chimney piece and the Empire sofa 
cannot hold their own against the full weight of Vic- 
torian adornment. Used now as the royal office, the 
chamber is dominated by two large and ugly walnut 
writing tables, piled with documents in prim order. 
There are heavy upholstered chairs, mathematically 
arranged. The mantel is covered with a dark lambre- 
quin, and huge red tassels on twisted rope cords loop 
back the ponderous draperies. Strangest of all, a 
vast wardrobe of rosewood or walnut stands with 
closed doors against the wall, quite overbalancing a 
delicate little relic of the Brothers Adam on the oppo- 
site side. But a pre burns brightly on the hearth, 
and mitigates the ponderous stolidity of the scene. 

The stage is empty as the curtain rises, but the 
Footman, grown a trifle portly and pompous, almost 
immediately ushers in Lord Palmerston, now 
nearly seventy, but still straight, fiery and direct, 
though conspicuously dyed. 

footman 

I will inform Her Majesty that the Secretary of State 
for Foreign Affairs craves an audience. 

113 



114 Queen Victoria 



PALMERSTON 
Inform His Highness also. 

{The Footman bows and departs, rear. 
PALMERSTON gazes about the room, shrugs. 
He goes to the desks, is offended by the 
orderliness there, touches the documents 
contemptuously, musses them up, chuckles 
and rearranges them. Lady Gay Haw- 
thorn — become Victorian also — enters) 

LADY GAY 
Good morning, my lord. 

PALMERSTON 

Ah, Lady Gay. How do you find life in the royal 
enclosure today? 

LADY GAY 

It never varies, my lord. 

PALMERSTON 

Tied hand and foot to the flaming chariot, eh? 

LADY GAY 
Flaming is scarcely the word to describe this court. 

{They laugh. Lady Gay becomes grave 
to deliver her message) 



Queen Victoria 115 



Their Majesties, my lord, are occupied with the royal 
children, as is their wont. At ten o'clock, as is their 
custom, their Majesties will enter their bureau. All 
audiences must be after that hour. It now lacks five 
minutes of ten o'clock. Furthermore, Her Majesty 
demands to know on whose responsibility Lord Pal- 
merston presumes to arrive at the Palace without 
having been summoned. 

PALMERSTON 

{Hotly) 
On my responsibility. 

LADY GAY 
There ! My message is delivered. 

{She laughs, he laughs) 

PALMERSTON 

Occupied with the royal children, eh? 

LADY GAY 

She calls them her little love pledges. 

PALMERSTON 

Shades of St. Valentine! What does he call them? 
Whatever she tells him to, I suppose. 

LADY GAY 

No. The Prince Consort is a very strong character. 



/ 



Il6 Queen Victoria 



PALMERSTON 



Doubtless. 



LADY GAY 
Thought he r does resemble a foreign tenor. 

PALMERSTON 

(Shrugs) 

The Prince is a foreigner who suffers from having 
no vices. 

LADY GAY 

He suffers from something else, besides. 

PALMERSTON 

Stockmar? 

(She nods) 

LADY GAY 

What can you expect? His heart is in Germany. He 
dreams always of Germany — a Germany unified 
under Prussian leadership. 

PALMERSTON 

Prussia is the adolescent among the nations. Gauche 
and raucous and pimpled. A clumsy Machiavelli. 

LADY GAY 
Stockmar is always near him. 



Queen Victoria 117 



PALMERSTON 

{Heatedly) 

Yes, and it is Stockmar who has given him the idea 
that as Prince Consort he, through the Queen, should 
dominate the Government. Well, we'll see about 
that. The British Government controlled by a 
foreigner whose sole interest is in Germany and the 
future greatness of Prussia ! We'll see about that. 
We'll see about that. 

{He strides about, much agitated. He. is 
showing his age) 

LADY GAY 

There's no danger, because the Queen 



PALMERSTON 

They are trying to get rid of me — she, as well as 
her German consort and god, and his mentor. But 
the choice lies with me, not with them. It has been 
made already. 

LADY GAY 

I'm sure the Queen has no desire 



PALMERSTON 



Oh, yes, she has. A very strong desire to get rid of 
me. Because I dare to disagree with her beloved. 
But I can do as I wish, because the British people 
are fond of me. 



Ii8 Queen Victoria 



LADY GAY 

They are fond of the Prince, too. 

PALMERSTON 

In a way. 

LADY GAY 

Since the magnificent success of the Great Exhibition, 
his popularity surpasses even that of Her Majesty. 

PALMERSTON 

But he isn't one of them. He is a foreigner to them. 

LADY GAY 
However that may be, to the Queen he is everything. 

( The Royal Pair enter. They are about 
thirty-jive ] years old. They come in holding 
hands and smiling at each other, but as 
soon as they espy Palmerston their faces 
freeze. Albert nods curtly and, seating 
himself at his table, becomes immersed in 
his documents. Victoria is unable to con- 
ceal her hostility so well. Lady Gay 
^departs ) 

VICTORIA 

{Acknowledging his bow) 
My lord. 

{Bristling) 



Queen Victoria ng 



We do not grant audiences before ten o'clock in the 
morning 

PALMERSTON 

{With great respect) 

Lady Gay Hawthorn has reminded me of my error. 

VICTORIA 

A member of our — my — Government should know 
such things. 

PALMERSTON 

I did, but an important affair of State 



VICTORIA 

The will of the sovereign transcends all other affairs 
of State. 

PALMERSTON 

That is a view which the English people would 
scarcely concur in. 

{Pointedly) 

It is cherished, I believe, in Prussia. 

(Albert glances at him, frowns and re- 
sumes his work) 

VICTORIA 

Buckingham Palace is not a public house that anyone 
may enter as the whim directs. 



120 Queen Victoria 



PALMERSTON 



Her Majesty will perhaps grant that the Secretary 
of State for Foreign Affairs has privileges not granted 
to the majority of her subjects. 



VICTORIA 

To the Sovereign there are no privileged persons 
among her subjects. 

PALMERSTON 

{Giving up) 

I am come to inform Your Majesty that our relations 
with Russia are strained. 



VICTORIA 

With Russia! 

(Palmerston bows) 

Oh, it mustn't be. 

PALMERSTON 

I fear, ma'am, that it is. 

VICTORIA 

It can't be. 

ALBERT 

Why not, my love ? 



Queen Victoria 121 



VICTORIA 

I was christened Alexandrina Victoria Alexandrina 
after the Czar Alexander of Russia ! 



PALMERSTON 

Nevertheless, our relations with Russia are critical. 

VICTORIA 

Why, sir, have I not been informed of the state of 
affairs before our relations with Russia became 
critical? 

PALMERSTON 

I am come to beg your Majesty to indite an amicable 
letter to His Majesty of France. We shall require 
his aid. 

VICTORIA 
{Tartly) 

Such a request should come from Lord Aberdeen, 
my Prime Minister. Why have he and you not made 
me completely cognizant of all the details of the 
negotiations as they occurred ? 

PALMERSTON 

They have been extremely delicate. 



122 Que en Victoria 



VICTORIA 



No matter how delicate, each step should have been 
submitted to us — to me before it was taken. 

PALMERSTON 

{With great deference, but firmly) 
The affairs of Government, Your Majesty, are the 
affair of the Government. 

{That is not Stockmar's view, not Al- 
bert's) 

VICTORIA 

As a result of your management of our affairs, Eng- 
land faces disaster. 

PALMERSTON 

England is strong enough to brave consequences. 

VICTORIA 

You have deliberately kept me uninformed of the 
negotiations with Russia. 

PALMERSTON 

The necessities of diplomacy 



VICTORIA 



The Queen of England wil not submit to such 
trickery. 

[{The, word bites) 



Queen Victoria 123 



PALMERSTON 

Am I to understand that I no longer enjoy Your 

Majesty's confidence? 

{She draws herself up and nods) 

Then — I am perforce compelled to resign as a mem- 
ber of Your Majesty's Government. 

{He waits, but she says nothing. He bows 
and goes out. Albert has long since 
stopped trying to conceal his attention to 
the conversation. As soon as the door 
closes behind Palmerston, he shows agita- 
tion) 

ALBERT 

My beloved 

VICTORIA 
A good riddance. 

ALBERT 

You should never have done such a thing. 

VICTORIA 
I am most pleased with the outcome. 

ALBERT 

But it is indiscreet. 

VICTORIA 
The Sovereign is above indiscretion. 



124 Q*** rori<i 



ALBERT 

Ill-advised 

VICTORIA 

Nor at all, not at all. 

ALBERT 

It may cause the fall of Lord Aberdeen's tiovcrn- 
ment 

VICTORIA 

If Lord Aberdeen's Government is so weak 



Al BERT 

But this Palmerston is highly regarded in the House 
of Commons, and among the populace he is greatly 
loved. 

VICTORIA 

So are we, my love. 

ALBERT 

But to accept the resignation oi a minister of State 
without careful consideration! 

VICTORIA 

He wishes to treat me like a woman, but 1 will show 
him that I am Queen of England. 

ALBERT 

The Queen, above all others, should do nothing with- 
out due deliberation and the proper formalities. 



Queen Victoria 125 



VICTORIA 

Well, it is done now, dearest. 

ALBERT 
It is certain to cause difficulties. 

VICTORIA 
Undoubtedly. 

ALBERT 
Summon him back, my love. 

VICTORIA 
Oh, I could never do that. 

ALBERT 

A kind word from you, and he would withdraw his 
resignation. 

VICTORIA 

But I don't wish him to withdraw his resignation, my 
heart. 

ALBERT 
I am much disturbed. 



# 

VICTORIA 



It is done now. 



126 Queen Victoria 



ALBERT 
It is so ill-considered- — so hastily done. 

VICTORIA 
Are you not taking this too seriously, my darling? 

ALBERT 
It is serious. Sehr, sehr. 

VICTORIA 
Wliat would you have me do ? 

ALBERT 

Send for him. 

VICTORIA 
I cannot consent to humiliate myself. 

ALBERT 

There is no humiliation in doing what is best for the 
country. 

VICTORIA 

It is best for the country that the Sovereign shall be 
firm. And it is not best for the country to have such 
a one in office. % 

ALBERT 
He is very powerful. 



Queen Victoria 127 



VICTORIA 
So are we ! 

ALBERT 



But he, being out of office, will have the public sym- 
pathy. They will feel you have been the aggressor, 
my heart. 

VICTORIA 

The Sovereign is above caring what the populace 
thinks so long as she knows she is performing her 
duty. 

ALBERT 

But you will be blamed, my love. 

VICTORIA 
We are above both popularity and blame. 

ALBERT 

If there is a Government crisis at this moment when 
our relations with Russia are critical, it might pre- 
cipitate a war that could be prevented. 

VICTORIA 

{Thoroughly frightened) 
Oh! 

{They gaze at each other, she horrified. 
But as she looks at him her expression 



ia8 Queen Victoria 



changes, and all the horror has gone from 
her voice when she speaks again; there is 
vc concern in it) 

Oh, my darling! 

ALBERT 

(Startled) 
Was istt 

VICTORIA 

There's a — a grey hair in your beard! 

(His hand instinctively flics to his chin) 

Not there, dearest. To the right. Here. Not one 
— three ! 

ALBERT 

My heart, the moment is serious. We cannot think 
of hair. 

VICTORIA 

Three grey hairs in your beard, my precious, is more 
serious than all else in the world. Still, we are thirty- 
tive. . . . But 1 wish — Dearest. 

ALBERT 

Eh? 

VICTORIA 
See if I have any grey hairs. 

ALBERT 

Liebes F ranch en! 

(She amuses him) 



Queen Victoria 129 



VICTORIA 
Please look. 

{She bends her head; he regards it closely) 



ALBERT 

Not one, my heart. 

VICTORIA 

Oh, I wish there were three grey hairs. You must 
not outstrip me. I dream of us growing old together, 
quietly, holding hands, and loving each other more 
and more all the time, if it were possible to love more 
than we do now. . . . 



{She sighs sentimentally) 



ALBERT 



Liebschen, you must make a memorandum of your 
tilt with Lord Palmerston. 



VICTORIA 

{Still in her sentimental mood) 

When I am with you, I cannot bear to bother my 
head with anything so dull as politics. 

{He touches her cheek fondly, which 
throws her into ecstasy) 



130 Queen Victoria 



ALBERT 

{Gently) 

The duty of a sovereign, my love. 

(Albert, when Victoria is seated at her 
table, goes to the great wardrobe and 
opens the doors, disclosing it to be an im- 
provised filing cabinet most neatly and 
ingeniously pigeonholed and labelled — 
doubtless a thrifty invention of his own — 
and extracting a document from compart- 
ment R, returns to his table and studies it. 
Victoria, meanwhile, writes a line, 
scratches it out, tries again with no better 
success, bites her penholder.) 



Albert. 


{In a wee voice) 




ALBERT 




Eh? 


VICTORIA 




How shall I 


write it? 

ALBERT 




Exactly as it 


happened. 





VICTORIA 
I can never remember details. 



Queen Victoria 131 



ALBERT 

{Resigned — dictates. She writes rapidly) 

"Lord Palmerston insinuated himself into the royal 
bureau before the hour when Her Majesty grants 
audience. When Her Majesty reproached him for 
the intrusion, he used as an excuse that the state of 
the relations between England and Russia were 
critical. Her Majesty demanded to know why she 
had been kept in ignorance of the state of affairs, 
and why she was not consulted about every step before 
it was taken. Lord Palmerston " 

{She looks up, leans over and brushes his 
coat collar. He stiffens and she returns to 
her task) 

"Lord Palmerston evaded." 

VICTORIA 
Dearest, is there an i in evaded? 

ALBERT 

No. E-v-a-d-e-d. "Lord Palmerston evaded " 

VICTORIA 

{Writing) 



a-d-e-d. 



ALBERT 



"Her Majesty reproved him. Whereupon the Secre- 
tary of State for Foreign Affairs, seeing that he had 



132 Queen Victoria 



forfeited his Sovereign's confidence, resigned. The 
Queen accepted his resignation." Date it. 

VICTORIA 

1-8-5-3. No. 4. I always do that in January — for- 
get that another year has passed. What date is it? 
January 

{She consults a calendar and writes the 
date) 

There! Where should I file it? 

ALBERT 

Third from the left — "Foreign Office." 

{She puts the folded document in the 
pigeonhole indicated) 

Have you examined the papers relative to the 
Spanish misunderstanding? 

VICTORIA 

Yes. 

ALBERT 

You had better write the Emperor Napoleon III the 
stand you intend to take in the matter. 

VICTORIA 

Yes. 

{He returns to his own papers. After a 
moment) 

What stand shall I take ? I mean what stand do you 
think it advisable to take? 



Queen Victoria 133 



ALBERT 
Why, just tell him 

VICTORIA 
I wonder if there are any grey hairs in your head. 

(She rises to find out, holding his face 
against her as she rummages through the 
hair and then smooths it out again) 

No — none. 

ALBERT 
(Released, he is able to speak again) 

Dearest, really! 

VICTORIA 

It just occurred to me that maybe 



ALBERT 

(Sternly) 

Let's get on with our labors. 

(A few moments during which he is busy 
reading a document and making notes. She 
tries to write the letter to Napoleon, but 
is stumped and bites her penholder, her 
finger nails. . . . She glances at him fur- 
tively the while) 



Albert. 



VICTORIA 
(In a wee voice) 



134 Queen Victoria 



ALBERT 
Yes, my heart. 

VICTORIA 

There is something I have wished to speak to you 
about for some time. 

ALBERT 
What is it, my love? 

VICTORIA 

It's about Bertie. I am very concerned about him. 

ALBERT 

What has he done ? 

VICTORIA 
He shows no aptitude in his books. 

ALBERT 

{Laying aside his papers) 
I have noticed that too. 

VICTORIA 
I am much distressed. 

ALBERT 

He is still a mere boy. 

VICTORIA 
But he is also the Prince of Wales. 



Queen Victoria 135 



ALBERT 
{Indulgently) 
Yes, but a boy first. A vigorous, healthy boy, too. 

VICTORIA 

You are so patient and painstaking with him — you 
even supervise his games. 

ALBERT 

That is part of the duty of a father. 

VICTORIA 

I pray always most fervently that Bertie will grow 
up to resemble his dearest father in every, every 
respect, both in body and mind. 

ALBERT 
{Pleased but embarrassed) 

Oh, my darling. 

VICTORIA 

But he seems wilful and perverse and selfish 

ALBERT 

A little wilful, perhaps. 

VICTORIA 
Whereas you are the very embodiment of abnegation. 



136 Queen Victoria 



ALBERT 



Really, Victoria, you must not say such things. You 
must learn to see me without prejudice. 

VICTORIA 

Wasn't it the most unselfish abnegation when you 
gave up double chess after dinner in order to spend 
the evenings spinning counters and rings with me? 
Oh, it is such fun. 

ALBERT 

If we were to invite scientists and men of letters to 
the Palace, it would benefit Bertie greatly to come 
in contact with them. 

VICTORIA 

I'm sure Bertie has the opportunity to meet the very 
best, people. 

ALBERT 

Yes, but I mean distinguished men. 

VICTORIA 

Statesmen are certainly distinguished. 

ALBERT 

They are prominent, but they are not creative. They 
do not advance knowledge. 



Queen Victoria 137 



VICTORIA 
What should we do without them? 

ALBERT 

They are quite necessary — quite. But Bertie could 
profit from encountering other kinds of people — 
people who are advancing knowledge and art. 

VICTORIA 

Art is so frequently improper, though, fortunately, 
not so improper in England as elsewhere. 

ALBERT 
If Bertie could meet philosophers and scientists 



VICTORIA 



But, dearest, he meets all the best people, and they 
are well known, too. 



ALBERT 



They are not necessarily anything in themselves. I 
was thinking that we might invite Mr. Darwin. I 
have read some papers of his in a scientific periodical. 



VICTORIA 



Oh, he has the most horrid and distasteful ideas. 
Lord Aberdeen essayed to explain them to me, but 
I found them so sickening that I would not allow 
him to continue. 



138 Queen Victoria 



ALBERT 

If you had permitted him to explain Mr. Darwin's 
theory in full 

VICTORIA 

It savored of sacrilege. 

ALBERT 

Science is not pretty, my dearest, but it is the only 
sane revolutionary force in the world. 

VICTORIA 
{Covering her ears) 
I can't abide that odious word. 

ALBERT 
Why is it odious? 

VICTORIA 
It means violence. 

ALBERT 

Not in science, my heart. 

VICTORIA 

Well, anyway, it signifies change, and I abominate 
change. 

(But she — her manner changes and her 
voice changes also) • 



Queen Victoria 139 



I want us to stay just as we are — you and I and our 
little love pledges, forever and ever. . . . 



ALBERT 

Even Bertie? 

VICTORIA 
We must do something about him. 

ALBERT 

Suppose we draw up a memorandum? 

VICTORIA 

{Delighted, not only with the idea as a 
solution, but with the genius that produced 
the idea) 

That's it — that's exactly what he needs. What shall 



we say? 






ALBERT 


Let me think. . . 


• 




VICTORIA 


I'll write and you 


dictate. 



ALBERT 



"Life is composed of duties, and in the due, punctual 
and cheerful performance of them the true Christian, 
true soldier and true gentleman is recognized." 



140 Queen Victoria 



VICTORIA 
How nobly you phrase it, my love ! 

ALBERT 

It might be well to remind his tutors of their respon- 
sibility. 

VICTORIA 
We'll write a memorandum for them, also. 

ALBERT 

{Dictating) 

"For the guidance of the gentlemen appointed to 
attend on the Prince of Wales." Mark it "confiden- 
tial," my love. 

VICTORIA 

Let us say first of all that the gentlemen should al- 
ways bear in mind that the great object in the educa- 
tion of the Prince is that he shall become a benevolent 
sovereign, beloved of all the world as his father is. 

(She has picked up the framed likeness of 
Albert which stands on her table and 
gazes at it adoringly. A slight murmur in 
the distance which has been evident for 
some time now becomes the angry yell of 
a mob that breaks into a song, muffled by 
distance and the closed windows) 

What is that? 



Queen Victoria 141 



ALBERT 

A great many voices. 

VICTORIA 
Singing. 

ALBERT 

But shrilly. 

VICTORIA 

{Rising to go to the bell-rope) 

What celebration can it be? 

(Stockmar enters, excited, perturbed. His 
hair is disordered) 

ALBERT 

Stockmar ! 

stockmar 

Pardon my informality 

VICTORIA 

You are pale. Something has happened! 

STOCKMAR 

Palmerston has resigned! 

VICTORIA 
{Pleased with herself) 
On my demand. 



142 Queen Victoria 



STOCKMAR 
The people are enraged. 

VICTORIA 
{Still not disturbed) 
Why should they be? 

STOCKMAR 

It was announced in the city. The manifesto read: 
"The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs has been 
compelled to relinquish his place in the Government 
of Lord Aberdeen on the demand of Her Majesty 
and Her Majesty's foreign Consort." 

VICTORIA 

{Furious) 

The — the — "Foreign Consort"! — this is more trick- 
ery. I will not submit 



STOCKMAR 

They are not angered at Your Majesty. 

ALBERT 

At me? 

STOCKMAR 

They accuse you of being an enemy of England, of 
favoring Russia in the interest of Germany. 



Queen Victoria 143 



They dare ! 
How can they! 



VICTORIA 



ALBERT 



STOCKMAR 



To the British people you are always a foreigner, my 
son. 

VICTORIA 

Oh, the ingrates ! He who gave them the beautiful 
Crystal Palace and the Great Exhibition! He who 
slaves early and late in their interest and has grey 
hair in his beard at thirty-five ! He, the husband of 
the Queen of England and the father of the Prince 
of Wales, their future sovereign! He an enemy of 
England ! He favoring Russia against England ! He 
a foreigner! 

ALBERT 

{In complete control of himself) 
What is that song they are singing? 

STOCKMAR 
Some improvisation. 

(Victoria throws up a window to shake 
her fist at the mob, and the words "little 
Al" are shouted. She bangs the window 
down again) 



144 Queen Victoria 



VICTORIA 
I will not endure it. I myself will go out. 



Your Majesty- 
Drina ! 



STOCKMAR 



ALBERT 



VICTORIA 



Please do not detain me, my love. I mean to tell 
them what the Queen thinks of her subjects. They 
shall beg your pardon on their knees. 

ALBERT 

My love, you must not. 

VICTORIA 
It is I who am being insulted. 

ALBERT 
My heart, I implore you. 

VICTORIA 
Let me go, Albert, let me go. 

(She breaks free of his embrace and rushes 
for the door right. Before she reaches it, 
it opens and Lady Gay, tremulous, breath- 
less, pale, enters. She carries a torn and 



Queen Victoria 145 



crumpled bunch of leaflets, but observing 
the Queen's agitation and surmising the 
cause of it, she hurriedly puts them behind 
her) 

LADY GAY 

You've heard? 

VICTORIA 
Let me pass, Gay. 

ALBERT 
What are they singing? 

LADY GAY 
Oh, a terrible thing. 

VICTORIA 

Kindly step aside. 

{Her voice is shrill) 

ALBERT 

What is the song? 

{He hopes to divert Victoria) 

VICTORIA 
Kindly step aside. 

{She shoves Lady Gay, who had no inten- 
tion of blocking the way, but being fright- 
ened and dazed had merely been unable to 



146 Queen Victoria 



know what was demanded of her. As Vic- 
toria pushes her, the leaflets flutter to the 
floor. They all stand and look at them, 
no one having the courage to pick them up) 

ALBERT 

{Huskily) 

The song? 

(Lady Gay nods. A long silence) 

What are the words, Stockmar? 

(Stockmar picks up a leaflet, glances at 
it, then at Albert in distress. The two 
men regard each other fixedly) 

VICTORIA 

Read it, Stockmar. 

(Her fury has resolved into a cold anger 
not unmixed with tremidousness. Stock- 
mar continues to regard Albert, who 
nods) 

STOCKMAR 

"The Turkish War both near and far, 
Has played the very deuce, then, 
And little Al, the royal pal, 

VICTORIA 

Oh! The 

(Albert takes her hand and thus silences 
her. She nods again to Stockmar) 



Queen Victoria 147 



STOCKMAR 

"They say has turned a Russian; 
Old Aberdeen, as may be seen, 
Looks woeful pale and yellow, 
And old John Bull has his belly full 
Of dirty Russian tallow. 

VICTORIA 
Oh, the unspeakable vulgarity! 

(Albert's arm goes round her waist) 

ALBERT 

Go on, Baron. 

STOCKMAR 

"We'll send him home and make him groan, 
Oh, Al ! You've played the deuce then, 
The German lad has acted sad, 
And turned tail with the Russians. 

VICTORIA 

{Breaking away from Albert) 

The guard — order out the guard. Have them shot 
— every one of them — traitors — traitors 

ALBERT 

Sh— sh. 



148 Queen Victoria 



VICTORIA 

It is lese majesty. They shall be shot — every last 
one of them. 

ALBERT 

My dearest heart, let us hear it all. 

(He nods to Stockmar) 

STOCKMAR 

"Last Monday night all in a fright, 
Al out of bed did tumble, 
The German lad was raving mad, 
How he did groan and grumble ! 
He cried to Vic, 'I've cut my stick; 
To St. Petersburg go right slap !' 
When Vic, 'tis said, jumped out of bed, 
And wopped him with her nightcap." 

(Silence. They gaze at the leaflets, then 
at each other. Finally Victoria and Al- 
bert look at each other. He is more sor- 
rowful than angry) 

VICTORIA 

(Grinding the leaflets into the floor under 
her heels) 

Beasts, ingrates, traducers, vile menials! They shall 
suffer for this. Palmerston shall suffer. He the 
most of all — he is the most dastardly betrayer the 
world has ever known — Judas — Judas — the greatest 



Queen Victoria 149 



slanderer that ever lived. But he will find out. As 
sure as I am Queen of England, I will have revenge 
on him. Palmerston shall crawl before us, crawl 
and beg and kiss the ground. He and his mer- 
cenaries. England, too, all the people of England, 
of the whole world — they shall kneel before us and 
implore our forgiveness. Every tongue that uttered 
those words shall be cut out. Cut out, I say — I, the 
Queen of England ! And Palmerston, Fll — I'll 

(Her imagination is not equal to her fury. 
She flies across the room and jerks the bell- 
rope wildly) 

I'll show them who is the traitor. And they shall 
learn how traitors can suffer. The Queen of Eng- 
land is not insulted with impunity. 

(The Footman enters) 

Order out the guard. Command it to disperse that 
yelling mob at all costs, at all hazards, in any manner 
necessary, violence if need be. 

(He waits) 
Make haste. 

(He goes. Albert makes a gesture to 
detain him, but Stockmar glances at him 
meaningly and goes out with the FOOTMAN. 
Lady Gay edges out after them) 

They will see — they will see — On the honor of a 
Queen, I swear 

ALBERT 
Be calm, my darling. 



150 Queen Victoria 



VICTORIA 



Calm ! When those howling dogs are yelping their 
vile filth? Calm! You can ask that! 



ALBERT 

For my sake, dearest. It is not easy for either of us. 

{She looks at him and sees that his quietude 
is a thin cover for great distress. Suddenly 
her rage is drowned in tears. She stumbles 
into his arms) 

My dearest heart, misunderstood, maligned, tra- 
duced, my precious, precious love. 



The Curtain Falls 



FIFTH EPISODE 

Bedroom of the Prince Consort, Buckingham 
Palace 

December 13, 1861 



FIFTH EPISODE 

It is December 13th, 186 1. 

The scene is an angle in Albert's bedchamber. In 
the shorter wall forming the angle, to the right of 
the audience, a fire burns under a mantel which is 
burdened with a tasseled lambrequin, a black marble 
clock topped with a bronze statuette of Hamlet, and 
heavily ornate girandoles. Facing out from the 
larger wall, in the centre of the stage, Albert lies, 
propped up a little with pillows in his ponderous 
four-post bed, his hair carefully ordered. The heavy 
canopies are looped back, and between him and the 
fire, close to his side, Victoria sits in a strange, 
puffily upholstered high-backed armchair, reading 
aloud from the works of Sir Walter Scott. On the 
other side of the bed is nothing but a narrow walnut 
commode, with a marble top, on which stand a water 
pitcher, glasses, and bottles of medicine. 

VICTORIA 

{In a monotone) 

" 'Child of my sorrow,' he said, 'well should'st thou 
be called Benoni instead of Rebecca ! Why should'st 
thy death bring down my grey hairs to the 
grave ?' " 

{She glances at Albert, and loses her 
place) 

153 



154 Queen Victoria 



" 'Child of my sorrow,' he said." — No — I read that. 
Oh, yes, here's the place. " 'To the grave till in the 
bitterness of my heart, I — — ' " 

(He stirs. She feels his head, arid rear- 
ranges his pillows) 

Are you in pain, my love ? 

ALBERT 

Um — um ! 

(She interprets that as a negative because 
his head moves from side to side. She sits 
again ) 

VICTORIA 

— " 'till in the bitterness of my heart' " — We were 
further on than that. " 'I curse God and die!' " Are 
you comfortable, my heart? 

(His hand goes to his head convulsively, 
and rumples his hair. Instinctively he tries 
to smooth it again. Victoria does it for 
him and takes the occasion to kiss his fore- 
head) 

Beloved. . . . There, it's all in nice again. 

(She resumes her reading) 

" 'Child of my sorrow' " — Oh, I'm always losing the 
place. Let's see. Oh, here. " 'Oh, she was as a 
crown of green palms to my grey locks ; and she must 
wither in a night like a gourd of Jonah ! Child of my 
love — child of my old age' " — Oh! 



Queen Victoria 155 



{She has forgotten his medicine. She pours 
it, supports his head on her arm, and drops 
it down his mouth. He shudders. She 
fondles his face, presses her lips to the 
crown of his head, and replaces him in his 
former position, smoothing the coverlet. 
Before she puts his hand beneath the 
covers, she lays it to her cheek. She essays 
to read Ivanhoe once more) 

VICTORIA 



u < 



Child of my sorrow,' he said, Svell shouldst thou 
be called -' " Does Ivanhoe interest you, dear- 
est? 

{In glancing at him she sees an ornament 
'displaced; she orders it, and returns to her 
hook) 

" 'She was as a crown of green palms — ' " 

ALBERT 
Meine Frauchen. 

VICTORIA 

{Jumping up and letting the book drop to 
the floor) 

What is it, my love ? 

ALBERT 

Ich will — I want musik. A chorale — but at a dis- 
tance — far away 

{She hastens to the door) 



156 Queen Victoria 



Alice — my daughter should play for me. 

(Victoria opens the door slightly and 
whispers to someone outside) 

Close the door. Music — way — way — away. 

(She recloses the door and returns to the 
bed) 

I want to hear Bach. 

VICTORIA 

Oh, I told her Luther ! 

(She makes for the door) 

ALBERT 

Luther is good — Luther is good. 

(She returns. An organ in the distance 
plays "Ein Feste Burg ist unser Gott." She 
sits holding his hand as they listen. Soon 
he begins to repeat the words. Her head 
nods as a mother's will when her son is 
^reciting a piece. )y The music stops, but 
he continues for a line or so. His mind 
wanders) 

Nicht, Ernst, nicht, meine Bruder* Play soft — it is 
Bach, not opera bouffe. Ach, you have no soul for 
music, my brother. Now once more — ein, zzvei, drei 
— spiel. Nicht — Nicht — NICHT. Pianissimo, not 
fortissimo ! Oh, Ernst, we shall never learn this 
duet! 



Queen Victoria 157 



VICTORIA 

(In consternation) 

Albert, my soul! You are not playing, and your 
brother Ernst is not here — our daughter Alice was 
playing, not you, dearest Albert. I am here — I — 
don't you — don't you know me, my heart's heart? 

ALBERT 

(His mind returns from its wandering — he 
strokes her cheek and murmurs) 

Liebes Frauchen. 

(She is reasurred) 
Gutes Weihchen. 

VICTORIA 

(Almost purring) 
Ah. . . . 

(She sits again. But his mind strays of 
once more) 

ALBERT 

Palmerston — if he had not resigned — what is the 
song? "Little Al, the royal pal" 

VICTORIA 
Oh, merciful heavens ! 



158 Queen Victoria 



ALBERT 

"German lad has acted sad." . . . Must make a 
memorandum. 

{She has flown to the door and whispered 
excitedly to the person outside, who evi- 
dently goes away. She stands, alternately 
looking out and back at the Prince) 

Memorandum — Palmerston resigned — order, my 
love, always order — deliberate always before you 
act, my heart 

(Sir James Clark, the royal physician, 
enters hastily. He goes through all the 
motions — feels the patient's pulse, his fore- 
head, listens to his heart-beats, counts his 
pulse again. Albert is still in delirium) 

They are howling at me, my love, not at you. I 
have done nothing to them, why should they hate 
me? Spiel, Ernst, spiel. Ah, Coburg! . . . 



VICTORIA 

Oh, doctor — Sir James ! 

SIR JAMES 

{Trying to be cheerful) 

Er — er — a slight delirium, Your Majesty — The 
fever. . . . 



Queen Victoria 159 



ALBERT 

Musik — Now, Ernst, we will play the organ — ein } 

zwei 

VICTORIA 

{Wringing her hands) 

Sir James ! Sir James ! 

SIR JAMES 
{With forced cheerfulness) 
There is nothing to cause alarm. . . . 

VICTORIA 
{Catching the forced note in his voice) 
Is there any danger? 

SIR JAMES 

No — er— that is to say 

{He stops and is unable to look at her. 
She gazes about the room, agonized, help- 
less, as though expecting aid to come from 
the corners or the ceiling) 

ALBERT 

You are always right, Stockmar. If Prussia were 
strong — England must be strong, too — The English 
do not make music — Play for me, my brother. We 
will learn — we will learn 



160 Queen Victoria 



VICTORIA 

{Sinking to her knees beside the bed, speak- 
ing through suppressed hysteria) 

Es ist kleines Frauchen — kleines Frauchen 



ALBERT 
(Singing) 



Du bist verruckt- 



VICTORIA 

Albert, don't you know me? 

ALBERT 

(Continuing) 
Mein Kind 

VICTORIA 

Your wife, Albert, your love — Drina — your Drina. 
Albert, my darling, my soul, I am here. Don't you 
know me? 

(The Footman enters. Clark motions 
him to go away. But the Footman has an 
important message to deliver. Clark 
goes to him. Victoria continues to 
mumble) 

SIR JAMES 
Sh— sh. 



Queen Victoria 161 



FOOTMAN 
Pardon, Sir James, but 

SIR JAMES 

Sh— sh. 

FOOTMAN 

Lord Palmerston is here. 

SIR JAMES 

Tell him to go away. 

FOOTMAN 

He is accompanied by the American Ambassador. 
He must see Her Majesty. 

SIR JAMES 

Her Majesty can see no one. 

(He turns away. The Footman goes. Sir 
James has scarcely begun to concoct a medi- 
cine before the Footman returns. Sir 
James moves to him) 

No — no 

(He points to the 'door) 

FOOTMAN 

Lord Palmerston bade me say that he would not 
venture to intrude at such a moment were it not that 
a situation involving war or peace in both hemi- 
spheres has arisen. 



1 62 Queen Victoria 



Go, go — GO. 



SIR JAMES 



FOOTMAN 



Lord Palmerston bade me inform Her Majesty 
that 

SIR JAMES 

Sh— sh 

(He goes out followed by the sorrowing 
Footman. Albert is now quiet. Vic- 
toria is still kneeling, stroking his hand, 
kissing it, fondling his face, mumbling en- 
dearments. Sir James re-enters and ap- 
proaches her. He speaks with a profes- 
sional sick-bed intonation) 

Your Majesty 

{She doesn y t heed. He lifts his voice slightly) 

Er — Your Majesty. 

VICTORIA 

(Dazed) 
Eh? 

SIR JAMES 

Pray pardon an intrusion on your thoughts at such 
a moment 

VICTORIA 

(Sharply) 

What is it, Sir James? 



Queen Victoria 163 



SIR JAMES 
{Taken aback) 
Er — er — He begs me to beg Your Majesty. 

VICTORIA 

Who begs? 

SIR JAMES 

Er — er — Lord Palmerston. 

VICTORIA 

Oh! 

(It is a little cry of anguish and anger. 
Her arm goes out to shield Albert. She 
collects herself) 

What does he want? 

SIR JAMES 

He begs 

VICTORIA 
Pray be brief. 

SIR JAMES 

Lord Palmerston, accompanied by the American 
Ambassador, Mr. Charles Francis Adams, has come 
to the Palace 

VICTORIA 

Present my compliments to Mr. Adams, and say that 
Her Majesty regrets that she cannot receive him. 



164 Queen Victoria 



SIR JAMES 

Pardon my insistence, Your Majesty, but a matter of 
great moment has arisen. 



VICTORIA 
Nothing is of moment now— nothing — nothing. . . . 

SIR JAMES 

Two envoys, loyal to Mr. Jefferson Davis, have 
been removed from the Trent, a British steamer, by 
officers of President Lincoln. Mr. Adams has in- 
structions from his government in reply to our de- 
mand for an explanation. 

(He waits. Victoria is occupied with 
Albert) 

What action will Your Majesty take? 
VICTORIA 

My love 

SIR JAMES 

The affair is critical. 

VICTORIA 



My soul- 



Queen Victoria 165 



SIR JAMES 
It may mean war with our American cousins. 

VICTORIA 

Oh, I don't care — I don't care about anything. 

(Slowly Albert, who has been lying 
quietly, moves his arm and feebly pushes 
her away. She looks at the arm in amaze- 
ment not unmixed with joy at his lucidity. 
He pushes her again. Without a word, she 
rises and goes out. His arm falls limply. 
He lies absolutely still. Sir James ap- 
proaches him in trepidation, picks up his 
hand. Albert jerks it away, rises on the 
other elbow) 

ALBERT 

See, my love — a palace all of crystal — like jewels 
in the sun — see — see — how it rises — up — up — to 
heaven. All glass, my heart, high as a church, higher, 
higher, hi — gh — er 

(His voice loud and full) 
Victoria ! 

(He collapses and dies) 

(Sir James is frantic. He rushes to the 
bed, listens for Albert's heart, feels his 
pulse, examines his eyes, and gives up. He 
looks about the room stupidly, suddenly 
rushes out, leaving the door open. A gasp, 



1 66 Queen Victoria 



an exclamation, are heard, then a sort of 
dull running about, as though several per- 
sons were scurrying aimlessly. Victoria 
comes hurtling into the room, straight to 
the bed, looks once at the corpse, and 
shrieks — one long wild shriek) 



INTERMISSION 



SIXTH EPISODE 

Reception Room in Buckingham Palace 
The Early 'Seventies 



SIXTH EPISODE 

It is some time during the premiership of Mr. 
Gladstone, before Disraeli's second accession to 
power in 1874. The scene is the same chamber as 
the fourth episode, save that Albert's table has been 
removed. It is the Queen's birthday {she is between 
50 and 60), and the room is cluttered with stiff and 
formal floral emblems, ponderous and beribboned. 
Amid these melancholy tokens of festivity, Victoria 
sits at her solitary table, going through routine docu- 
ments, grimly, determinedly, and quite without in- 
terest. The aging Footman enters, bearing yet more 
floral tokens. 

(footman) 

{Announcing) 

From the Lord Mayor of London. From the — er 
— er — the City of Birmingham. 

(Victoria pays no heed; she does not 
even glance at the flowers. The Footman 
finds a place for the latest offerings and 
goes out. The Queen drops her work, 
glances at the table of flozvers, picks up 
Albert's photograph and gazes at it with 
affectionate melancholy. She sighs and re- 
sumes her labors. The Footman brings 
in a huge sheaf of roses and a formal 
<{ piece" of lilies — the latter the stiff est of 
169 



170 Queen Victoria 



the whole lot. He offers them to the 
Queen as the butler would a platter at 
dinner. Referring to the roses) 

From the House of Commons. 

{To the lilies) 

From Her Majesty's Government. 

(Victoria turns and looks at them — -coldly) 

VICTORIA 

Find a place for them. 

(The man puts them in the most conspicu- 
ous position) 

Have you forgotten that we are leaving for Scotland 

and the silver is not yet put away? 

FOOTMAN 

Oh, I beg pardon. 

(He goes out hastily. The Queen regards 
the flowers, turns her back on them very 
pointedly, and embroiders with angry agi- 
tation. The Footman returns with a rose- 
wood case of "flat" silver. He puts it on 
the desk. Victoria lays aside her fancy 
work, rises, opens the case, removes a list 
and the bundle of forks, and counts them) 

VICTORIA 
Twenty-four forks — One, two three . . . 



Queen Victoria 171 



FOOTMAN 

I beg pardon, Your Majesty, but Mr. Gladstone 
presents his compliments and craves an audience. 

VICTORIA 
Four, five — We will receive Mr. Gladstone. 
{As the Footman is departing) 

Don't bring any more flowers in here. ( ueven, eight, 
ten . . . 

FOOTMAN 
Very well, Your Majesty. 

{He throws open the door on the left and 

announces) 

Mr. William Ewart Gladstone. 

{He exits as Gladstone enters. The 
Prime Minister is apparelled as for a 
State occasion. . .He is more than 60 years 
old and already bears the weight of "Grand 
Old Man." Very solemnly he kisses the 
Queen's hand) 

GLADSTONE 

In the name of Your Majesty's Ministers and of 
myself, Your Majesty's Prime Minister, I desire to 
congratulate Your Majesty on the anniversary of 
her birth. The vastness of Your Majesty's Empire, 
the success of Your Majesty's armies and fleets, and 
the prosperity of Your Majesty's subjects, have made 
this day a day of rejoicing throughout the length 
and breadth of this great realm. 



172 Queen Victoria 



VICTORIA 
Has it? Fourteen . . . 

GLADSTONE 

{Deflated) 
Pardon? 

VICTORIA 

Does the nation rejoice? 

GLADSTONE 

The British people, Your Majesty, have for their 
sovereign an affection unparalleled in 

VICTORIA 

{Interrupting) 

Then the House of Commons does not truly repre- 
sent the British people. Eighteen, twenty, twenty- 
four. 

( The forks are all there. She wraps them 
up, replaces them and begins on the knives. 
Quite at a loss to knozv how to take her 
asperity, Gladstone looks about for aid. 
He finds it in the great sheaf of roses pre- 
sented by the House of Commons) 

GLADSTONE 

The House, Your Majesty, voted unanimously to 
make this slight offering 



Queen Victoria 173 



VICTORIA 

I am quite shocked at the way the House goes on, 
Mr. Gladstone. They really bring discredit on 
Constitutional Government. One, two . . . 

GLADSTONE 

{Misunderstanding) 

But flowers on such a momentous occasion are most 
appropriate. 

VICTORIA 

I refer to the current debate on the appropriation for 
the support of the Crown. Five, six, seven . . . 

GLADSTONE 

{In his best debating manner) 

The subject of that debate, Your Majesty, properly 
to be apprehended, would require a detailed knowl- 
edge of the condition of the National Exchequer. 
In the present state of the public finances to vote 
a grant of 60,000 pounds per annum for the Sov- 
ereign's private use in addition to the grant of 385,- 
000 pounds per annum to defray the expenses of 
the royal Household and to support the honor and 
dignity of the Crown is considered perhaps a bit 
excessive. 

VICTORIA 

Excessive ! 



174 Queen Victoria 



GLADSTONE 

Your Majesty will agree that since the demise of 
the Prince Consort and Your Majesty's continued 
seclusion, the expenditures for both these purposes 
have been very considerably diminished. 

VICTORIA 

So the royal menage is to be conducted like a trades- 
man's household. 

{Emphatically) 
Twelve, thirteen . . . 

GLADSTONE 

Oh, Your Majesty misapprehends. It is merely that 
the state of the public finances — Now, if Your 
Majesty would consent to resume the ceremonial 
functions of the Crown 

VICTORIA 

Ah, then, the public finances would be sufficient to 
defray all expenses? The House demands value re- 
ceived. Is that it, Mr. Gladstone? Eighteen, nine- 
teen . . . 

GLADSTONE 

Really, Your Majesty 

VICTORIA 
Is that not so, Mr. Gladstone? 



Queen Victoria 175 



GLADSTONE 

Your Majesty is aware that the continuous mourning 
for the Prince Consort and the protracted seclusion 
which that mourning involves not only casts a gloom 
over high society, not only deprives the populace of 
the opportunity to see the glorious person of the 
Sovereign and to be inspired by the vision of her 
splendor, but also exercises a most deleterious effect 
upon the dressmaking, millinery and hosiery trades. 
The dearth of state functions deprives them of much 
of their income and 

VICTORIA 

{Quite seriously) 

Why has no one called my attention before to this 
aspect of my retirement? Twenty-one, twenty-two. 

GLADSTONE 

{Feels he has won) 

The whole world respected too profoundly Your 
Majesty's sorrow. 

VICTORIA 

That sorrow does not diminish with time, Mr. Glad- 
stone. Twenty-four. 

{The knives are all there. She puts them 
in the case and begins on the spoons) 

GLADSTONE 

Your Majesty's immersion in grief has set an example 
for all lovers in the Empire. 



176 Queen Victoria 



VICTORIA 

All the more reason why I should adhere to my 
grief. Even if 1 could forget my bereavement, Mr. 
Gladstone, what you have just said would make me 
desire that the world should not know I had for- 
gotten my great loss. But I can never forget. One, 
two, three . . . 

GLADSTONE 

{With desperate persistence) 

There have been rumors that Your Majesty will 
emerge from your retirement. 

VICTORIA 

They are false rumors, Mr. Gladstone. Five, six . . . 

GLADSTONE 

But if Your Majesty will deign to consider the 
necessity 

VICTORIA 

The whole subject sir, is extremely distasteful. 
Eight, nine . . . 

GLADSTONE 

{After a moment) 

I am aware of Your Majesty's reluctance in this 
matter and of the exquisite delicacy that prompts it; 
but if you would consent to appear at intervals — 
even at long intervals 



Queen Victoria 177 



VICTORIA 

I cannot give the populace its pageantry, Mr. Glad- 
stone. My heart is too heavy. Eleven, twelve . . . 

GLADSTONE 

On Thursday of next week a bronze statue of Words- 
worth, the late poet laureate, is to be unveiled in 
Hammersmith. If your Majesty would honor the 
occasion 

VICTORIA 

There are higher duties than mere representation 
which are now thrown upon the Queen alone and 
unassisted. Fourteen, fifteen . . . 

GLADSTONE 

A royal progress through London on Thursday next 
would do much to dispel the — er — the — er 

VICTORIA 

I am quite aware of my unpopularity, 

{He makes a gesture of protest) 

and of the attacks of the Chartists and other hor- 
rible radicals on both the theory and the practice 
of the Monarchy. Sixteen, seventeen . . . 

GLADSTONE 

Every Englishman, of whatever class or condition, 
however prosperous or poor, whether educated or 
ignorant — every Englishman, Your Majesty, realizes 
that the Monarchy as it exists is a vital element of 
the British Constitution. Every Englishman 



178 Queen Victoria 



VICTORIA 

Well, as long as there is a Monarchy and / am the 
Monarch, I will exercise the privilege of a Monarch 
and perform my duties as my conscience directs. 
Nineteen, twenty . . . 

GLADSTONE 

(Trying to be gay) 

Ah, then, surely the royal conscience will direct that 
Your Majesty appear at the unveiling of the bronze 
statue to Wordsworth on Thursday 

VICTORIA 

Mr. Gladstone, I will not appear at the unveiling 
of the bronze statue to Wordsworth on Thursday. 
That is final. 

( The Prime Minister bows and stands un- 
comfortably. It is scarcely an auspicious 
moment for him to take his departure, nor 
yet can he find reason to do otherwise. H& 
longs for an interruption. It comes) 

Twenty-two, twenty-three. Twenty-three 

(Excitedly) 

A silver spoon is missing! 

(Her voice has suddenly grown loud. The 
Footman hurriedly enters) 

A silver spoon is missing! 



Queen Victoria 179 



(The Footman searches under the table, 
Victoria in the case) 

Where can it be? Could it have been stolen? 

( The search becomes more energetic. Mr. 
Gladstone joins in rather gingerly) 

I wouldn't lose it for anything. I have had this 
silver since my marriage. The Prince Consort gave 
it to me. It was made in Coburg. Where can it 
_Ah— h 

(Gladstone has found it beneath her 
chair. He presents it to her with the same 
dignified flourish that he would offer her 
an empire) 

Oh, thank you so much, Mr. Gladstone. Albert was 
as fond of this silver as of that vase. 

(She proceeds to arrange the pieces, to 
close and lock the box, then she takes up 
her fancy work again. Once more the 
Prime Minister stands uncomfortably. 
Finally he clears his throat) 

♦ GLADSTONE 

If Your Majesty will permit, I should like to call 
attention to a matter which has been agitating the 
Government for some time. It is in the nature of 
a reform 

VICTORIA 
I live in an atmosphere of interminable reform. 



l8o Queen Victoria 



GLADSTONE 

This reform is not political; it concerns the wearing 
of beards in the Navy. 

VICTORIA 
{Turning in her chair) 
I have been studying that question. 

GLADSTONE 

The British sailor who has carried the flag to every 
port and keeps it flying on every sea is hampered in 
two ways by the present regulations requiring him 
to shave. First, the difficulty of the actual act of 
shaving on a rolling sea, and, secondly, the strongly 
masculine aspect which hair gives to sailors' faces. 

VICTORIA 
I approve very much of beards in the Navy. 

GLADSTONE 

Ah, that is gratifying. But some members of Your 
Majesty's Government maintain that shaven men 
have an appearance of cleanliness which unshaven 
ones have not. I myself feel that the argument is 
negated by the fact that a man with a beard is less 
likely to be unkempt than a man who has neglected 
to shave for a day or so. 



Queen Victoria 181 



VICTORIA 

We are entirely in accord. 

GLADSTONE 

On the other hand 

VICTORIA 

I have reached a decision, Mr. Gladstone. My own 
personal feeling would be for the beards without the 
mustaches, as the latter have a rather soldier-like 
appearance. 

GLADSTONE 

Quite so. 

VICTORIA 

But since the object in view is to prevent the necessity 
of shaving, it had better be as proposed! the entire 
beard. Only it should be kept short and very clean, 
and on no account should mustaches be allowed with- 
out beards. And the beard must be under the chin 
like the Prince Consort's. That must be clearly 
understood. 

GLADSTONE 

It shall be, Your Majesty, it shall be. How great 
is England's fortune to be governed by a Queen of 
such perspicacity, intellect and lofty ideals, who is 
inspired 

FOOTMAN 

Mr. Benjamin Disraeli. 



1 82 Queen Victoria 



VICTORIA 

{Showing relief and delight) 

We will receive him. 

(To Gladstone, in dismissal) 

I am deeply appreciative of your lofty sentiments and 
kind wishes. 

(He bows over her hand) 

GLADSTONE 

Perhaps Your Majesty will reconsider the matter of 
appearing at Hammersmith on the occasion 

VICTORIA 

(Sharply) 

No ! I will not reconsider and I will not appear. 

(Gladstone goes. At the door he en- 
counters Disraeli) 

DISRAELI 

Ah, Mr. Gladstone ! Good morning, sir. 

(To the Queen, gaily) 

Has he been making the bricks of the future with 
the straw of reform? 

GLADSTONE 
(Gravely) 
Good morning, sir. 

(Exit) 



Queen Victoria 183 



VICTORIA 
( Warmly ) 
Oh, Mr. Disraeli, I am so glad you have come. 

DISRAELI 

There is no honor and no reward that can ever equal 
the possession of Your Majesty's kind thoughts. All 
my own thoughts and feelings and duties and af- 
fections are now concentrated in Your Majesty, and 
I desire nothing more for my remaining years than 
to serve Your Majesty. 

VICTORIA 

{Sighing with pleasure) 

Ah, sir, how your words soothe my troubled 
heart! 

DISRAELI 

Today I ought fitly, perhaps, to congratulate a pow- 
erful Sovereign on the vastness of her Empire, the 
prosperity of her subjects, and the success and 
strength of her fleets and armies. But I cannot; 
my mind is in another mood. I can only think of 
the strangeness of my destiny that it has come to pass 
that I should be the servant of one so great, and 
whose infinite kindness, the brightness of whose in- 
telligence and the firmness of whose will, have en- 
abled me to undertake labors to which I otherwise 
would be unequal. Upon the Sovereign of many 
lands and many hearts may an omnipotent Provi- 
dence shed every blessing that the wise can desire 
and the virtuous deserve. 



184 Queen Victoria 



VICTORIA 
I am deeply moved by your beautiful sentiments. 

DISRAELI 

But it is not to my Sovereign that I present my 
homage and my supernal affection on this day fortu- 
nate above all other days of the year — It is to my 
Faerie Queen— my Faerie— that I pay my profound 
reverence. 

(VICTORIA wipes her eyes, much affected, 
and silently holds out a hand to him. He 
kneels and kisses it. Heretofore he has 
held his left hand behind his back. Now 
he brings it forth, holding a primrose) 

VICTORIA 
( Taking the flower) 
How exquisitely lovely! 

DISRAELI 

Once when I was ill and melancholy and almost 
despairing there came to me like the promise of a 
new day a cluster of primroses — plucked by the in- 
comparable hand of my Faerie — and in her gracious 
condescension despatched to me. At once, as by a 
miracle, I was healed! And from that moment 
primroses have been to me the ambassadors of spring, 
the very gems and jewels of Nature. 



Queen Victoria 185 



( The Queen cups the flower in her hand 
and presses it to her face. She sighs. An 
idea comes to her. She goes to the table 
where the Government's lilies are and lays 
the primroses for a moment beside them. 
She looks at Disraeli to remark the con- 
trast) 

VICTORIA 

Simple and true like you, Mr. Disraeli. 

{A pause) 

I like it so much better for being wild. 

{Another pause. She touches the roses 
and gestures to the other floral tributes) 

They pity me and not my grief. I have had a terrible 
interview with Mr. Gladstone. 



DISRAELI 
{Sympathetically ) 



My Faerie 



VICTORIA 

He is always instituting some odious reform. 

DISRAELI 

Mr. Gladstone possesses all the virtues. 

VICTORIA 

I am determined that no one is to lead or guide or 
dictate to me. 



1 86 Queen Victoria 



DISRAELI 

You are unable, Madam, to mete out full justice to 
Mr. Gladstone, due no doubt to his unhappy manner 
of presentation. 

VICTORIA 

He speaks to me as if I were a public meeting ! 

DISRAELI 

He is indeed a sophisticated rhetorician, inebriated 
with the exuberance of his own verbosity, and withal 
dwindling into senility. 

VICTORIA 
Oh, Mr. Disraeli, how perfectly you express it! 

DISRAELI 

And now, my Faerie, let us permit no cloud to mar 
the untrammeled lambency of this day of days. No 
cares, my liege. Let us forget everything except that 
life is but a dazzling farce and an engrossing game. 

VICTORIA 

But oh, sir, how fearful it is to be suspected, 
uncheered — unguided and unadvised — and how alone 
the poor Queen feels ! 

DISRAELI 

The price of genius and supreme greatness, my 
Faerie. 



Queen Victoria 187 



VICTORIA 
But when the Prince was with me all was so different. 



DISRAELI 

How well I comprehend that. The Prince is the only 
person whom I have ever known who realized the 
Ideal. There was in him a union of manly grace 
and sublime simplicity, of chivalry with the intel- 
lectual splendor of the Attic Academe. The only 
character in English history that would in some re- 
spects draw near to him is Sir Philip Sidney; the 
same high tone, the same universal accomplishments, 
the same blended tenderness and vigor, the same rare 
combination of romantic energy and classic repose. 
My acquaintance with the Prince has been one of 
the most satisfactory incidents of my life; full of 
refined and beautiful memories, and exercising, as I 
hope, over my remaining existence, a soothing and 
exalting influence. 

VICTORIA 

Oh, Mr. Disraeli ! The depth and delicacy of these 
touches ! 

DISRAELI 

If I could by so much lighten your burden, my Queen 
and my Faerie, I should consider myself the most 
fortunate of men, the blessed of the Almighty, and 
the favored of His greatest servant. 



Queen Victoria 



VICTORIA 

My burdens seem to fall away when you. speak, 
sir. 

{At the mantelpiece) 

Heavens! This vase right on the edge. It might 
have fallen off and been broken ! How can servants 
be so thoughtless? 

DISRAELI 

Not thoughtless, madam. Thoughtful — of every- 
thing but their duties. 

VICTORIA 

I wouldn't have it get broken for worlds. Albert 
was so fond of it. He said it reminded him of 
me. . . . 

{She fondles it tenderly, sentimentally, 
and then places it securely on the shelf 
again ) 

DISRAELI 

Grace and beauty without parallel. . . . 

VICTORIA 

Those were the very words he used. 

{She sighs) 

There is magic in your tongue, sir. 

{She has an idea. Roguishly, sweetly, she 
sticks the primrose in the vase. She looks 



Queen Victoria 189 



at him diffidently; he smiles, she smiles. 
Shyly she turns to the mantel — and is in- 
stantly transformed) 



Heavens! It's dusty! 

(She pulls the bell-rope) 

DISRAELI 

Nature's humane provision, my Faerie. There must 
be a film of dust about you, else your dazzling 
brilliance would blind the eyes of all mankind. 

(The Footman enters) 

(Pointing to the mantel) 

Dust! 

(He is stunned, recovers, starts towards 
the door, remembers he has a handker- 
chief, produces it, and uses it vigorously 
on the mantel-shelf) 

DISRAELI 

If only the dust that gathers on men's minds could 
be so swiftly eliminated. The dust on England's 
mind! You, only you, my Faerie, can dispel it! 
One breath, my liege, and England is herself again ! 

VICTORIA 

Oh, Mr. Disraeli, if only you were my Prime Min- 
ister again! I pray every night for it to come to 
pass. There would be no more odious reforms. 



190 Queen Victoria 



DISRAELI 

Be not too sure of that, my Faerie. There are 
dangerous things within me. My mind is a con- 
tinental mind; it is a revolutionary mind. I am 
only truly great in action. And I might desire to 
be truly great. 

VICTORIA 

{Comfortably) 

I have no fear. If you were my First Minister all 
— everything would be well and I would be so happy. 

(Wales hurtles into the room) 

WALES 

Congratulations, mamma. I hope you have a happy 
birthday. 

{He kisses her cheek) 

VICTORIA 
It is half over already. 

WALES 

{Affecting gaiety) 
Never too late 

VICTORIA 
Why did you not appear at breakfast? 



Queen Victoria 191 



WALES 
(He is afraid of her) 
Well, I — I — mamma, dear, I had to- 



VICTORIA 

(Sternly) 
What? 

WALES 

I had to hurry away because — because — certain 
events, you see 

VICTORIA 

What events, Bertie? 

WALES 

Why — e r — e r 

(He looks appealingly at Disraeli) 

VICTORIA 
What events? 

WALES 

Well — er — it's — it's — the Times this morning 

VICTORIA 

(Puzzled) 
The Times? 



192 Queen Victoria 



WALES 

Yes, the Times newspaper. But they are always glad 
when they can print things about us — about prominent 
people. They delight in it. You would think their 
malice gave them pleasure. Whether it's true or 
not 

VICTORIA 
What are you talking about? 

WALES 

You don't know! 

VICTORIA 
Know what? 

WALES 

About me — I mean, you haven't read ! 



(Victoria looks inquiringly at Disraeli, 
although she knows already that the news 
will be distressing. Her face hardens. 
Disraeli silently hands her a copy of the 
paper, folded. A headline immediately 
jumps out at her. As she reads, her ex- 
pression grows grimmer and grimmer) 

VICTORIA 

Is this true ? Are you called as a witness in a divorce 
case? 



Queen Victoria 193 



WALES 
{Like a terrified little boy) 
Ye — es, Mamma. 

(She reads a few sentences more) 

DISRAELI 

(Aside, to Wales) 
What shall you tell the court? 

WALES 
(With dignity) 
The truth, like any other Englishman. 

VICTORIA 

Are you really implicated in this ? 

WALES 
(Again the terrified little hoy) 
N — no, mamma — n — not really — I 

VICTORIA 

(Throwing away the paper. Her hand, 
trembles with anger) 

You dared to do such a thing ! 

WALES 
No, mamma. 



194 Queen Victoria 



VICTORIA 

My oldest son has cast disgrace on the Crown and 
tarnished his sacred father's memory! Soiled the 
greatest name in the world and besmirched the most 
beautiful figure in English history! No wonder the 
House of Commons dares denude the Throne of its 
prerogatives when the heir to the Throne makes 
himself the subject of the lowest gossip ! That's the 
reason the people positively dislike me and despise 
all royalty. That explains everything. It is in- 
tolerable. 

{Right at Wales) 

I will not endure it. 

WALES 
(Weakly) 
Mamma. 

VICTORIA 

(Focusing her anger on him) 
You whom your father brought up so carefully, 
watched over all your studies and all your games 

and — and Go to your room and don't leave it 

until I tell you to. 

(He slinks out rear and as he is closing the 
doors her hands reach towards him) 

Bertie ! 

(But he is gone. She does not repeat the 
cry; the moralist conquers the mother. But 
her spirit is broken; her anger dissolves 
into sorrow. She weeps) 



Queen Victoria 195 



DISRAELI 
{Sympathetically ) 



Madam. 



VICTORIA 

My life is crumbling about me. 

DISRAELI 

{Really moved) 

How can Your Majesty utter such words when all 
England, all the world- 



? 



VICTORIA 

Albert's son. . . . 

DISRAELI 

The Prince, Your Majesty, is not entangled in this 
affair. He is merely summoned by the court, as an 
Englishman, to tell what he knows of the case. And 
like a true Englishman, believing in justice and the 
administration of the law, he will respond to the 
summons. 

VICTORIA 

It is too shameful! Oh, sir, I would I were some 
poor peasant woman grubbing in the fields. 

DISRAELI 

My Faerie ! 



196 Queen Victoria 



VICTORIA 



Oh, why should I remain Queen of England, when 
England does not wish a queen? And after me my 
successor, my son, will mount the Throne, soiled with 
the mud of the gutter. Why should I go on? Why 
should I not abdicate? 



DISRAELI 

{Startled) 



Your Majesty 



VICTORIA 

( The idea takes hold of her) 

The monarchy can be abolished, all of Mr. Glad- 
stone's hateful reforms adopted. Perhaps then my 
enemies will leave me alone. 

DISRAELI 

No sane human being could be the enemy of so 
glorious a Queen. 

VICTORIA 

The great sorrow and anxiety and hard work of ten 
years, alone, unaided, with increasing age and never 
very strong health are breaking me down. And now 
this awful thing that Bertie has done will increase 
the irremediable antagonism between the Throne and 
the Nation. Oh, I am indeed on a dreary sad 
pinnacle of solitary grandeur. 



Queen Victoria 197 



DISRAELI 

Your Majesty is momentarily depressed by the 
Prince's youthful misadventure. It is common to all 
youths to 

VICTORIA 

I knew Albert in his youth ! 

DISRAELI 
{Trying again) 
The youth of this generation 



VICTORIA 
England is weary of me — I have lived too long. 

DISRAELI 
England was never prouder. 

VICTORIA 

The people are discontented. 

DISRAELI 

My Faerie has but to let the populace gaze upon her 
effulgent person, and the resplendent light which 
emanates from Your Majesty will wither it like a 
flower exposed to the sun's too brilliant rays. 



198 Queen Victoria 



VICTORIA 
Albert's son — his son. . . . 

(She turns to the mantel, rests an arm upon 
it, her cheek on her arm. Her body shakes 
with dry sobs. But soon she controls her- 
self, lifts her head, and as she does so her 
arm upsets the vase. It falls to the floor 
and breaks) 

Oh, our vase ! 

(She falls on her knees and gathers the 
larger fragments as though they might be 
put together again) 

DISRAELI 
(For once at a loss) 
It is only a little vase. 

VICTORIA 

Albert admired it. The day he arrived in England 
from Coburg he remarked this vase and admired it. 
It was my favorite, too. And now it is gone — shat- 
tered — like my life. . . . 

(A pause. She has a terrible idea) 

Perhaps, some day the memory of him will be shat- 
tered like this vase and my life ! . . . 



Queen Victoria 199 



DISRAELI 
{Picking up the primrose from the floor) 

The vase is broken, my Faerie, but this primrose 
lives ; its loveliness is undiminished. The flower lives 
and glows, fragrant and exquisite. The life of a 
good man is like a flower — not a vase. It cannot 
be shattered, and, though it may seem to fade in 
death, its perfume is eternal because every good deed 
that men do after it is a renewal of its memory. 
Albert will live, my Faerie, so long as a single Eng- 
lishman is kind and just and noble. And is there 
not another lesson you and I can learn from this little 
flower? 

{He places it gently in her hand) 

The plant renews itself. The old plant has lovelier 
blossoms than the young. So we, who are alive, we 
cannot be shattered like a vase. We go on into the 
future, and as we march forward we put forth new 
and finer blossoms in our ancient springs. 

VICTORIA 
I wish it had not been broken. . . . 

DISRAELI 

It was a perishable bauble, my Faerie. But I shall 
lay at your feet an enduring bauble, a lovelier bauble, 
a bauble that the great of the earth have ever yearned 
to possess, and none has ever achieved, because be- 
fore you no one had arrived at a splendor that could 
rival its splendor. No one in all history, save only 
you, could bring to it a greatness equal to the great- 



20O Queen Victoria 



ness it confers. But you who have reached the pin- 
nacle of power, the apex of ambition, the supreme 
summit of mundane magnificence; you who stand like 
a star high above the world of little men and little 
hopes, like a star clear and crystalline against the 
very heavens themselves — you, most lustrous of 
Sovereigns, will honor it more than it can honor you. 
It will be but another jewel in your dazzling diadem, 
my Faerie, my Queen, my Empress. Empress of 
India ! 

VICTORIA 

( Unconsciously her head rears up proudly) 

Oh! 

{But her sadness returns. She rises with 
Disraeli's aid, goes to the table and re- 
gards Albert's photograph) 

My people crying out against me, hating me. . . . 

Oh, my love, my love — I am so alone. If you were 

with me ! If you were only here ! . . . 

DISRAELI 

If the Prince were here would he, whose sense of 
'duty shone with the rare effulgence of the most lus- 
trous star and was as unwavering as the sun at mid- 
day, would he permit Your Majesty to let a moment 
of dejection cast England into the depths and en- 
danger the existence of the Empire, of the very nation 
itself? 

{She gazes up at Disraeli) 

Would he not counsel you to continue on the way to 
a greatness such as no mortal has ever before at- 
tained — Dictatress of Europe — Empress of India? 



Queen Victoria 201 



VICTORIA 

{After a moment) 

It is not possible. And if it were. . . . 

{She glances at the Times on the floor and 
shrugs dejectedly) 

DISRAELI 

The greatest Sovereign that ever has been or that 
ever will be must have the greatest position men can 
bestow; she must stand upon the apex of the world. 
She shall be Empress of India ! 

VICTORIA 
I, who cannot control even my own son ! 

DISRAELI 

The Prince, were he alive, would urge Your Majesty 
to set an example to all parents suffering from the 
rashness of their sons. Would he not take your hand 
and walk proudly into the streets of London saying 
to all mankind, "Behold how a Queen can bear sor- 
row?" 

{This has a marked effect on her) 

Does there not come from the impenetrable zone 
wherein his rare spirit dwells a voice, heard only by 
my Faerie's inner soul; a voice from the region of 
all wisdom, uttering the single word 'Duty'?" 

{She stares at Disraeli with wide eyes. 
She looks at the photograph of Albert) 



202 Queen Victoria 



VICTORIA 

You always said we should rise superior to our 
troubles — be greater than they — greater. . . . 

(She reaches a resolution, pulls the bell- 
rope, then returns to the picture. The 
Footman enters) 

Despatch a messenger to Downing Street and inform 
the Prime Minister that Her Majesty consents to 
appear in Hammersmith on Thursday, and will un- 
veil the statue of the poet Wordsworth. 



( The Footman goes) 



DISRAELI 



My Queen, My Empress, My faerie Mistress of 
the World! 

VICTORIA 

(Having made her decision, her dejection 
passes, and she is all energy and activity) 

We have much work to do, Mr. Disraeli. I shall 
lean heavily upon you. 

DISRAELI 

A burden that would honor the gods themselves. 

VICTORIA 
You will lunch here and remain all the afternoon. 



Queen Victoria 203 



DISRAELI 

My duties elsewhere — in the House of Commons — 
will require 

VICTORIA 

My requirement takes precedence. 

DISRAELI 
But, Madam 

VICTORIA 

I command. 

(Disraeli makes a deep bozv and goes out 
to despatch a messenger to the House. The 
Queen stands staring as at some mirage. 
Her voice is faint, a whisper) 

Empress of India ! 

(She turns slowly to Albert's photo- 
graph) 

And alone. . . . 

(She picks up the photograph and gazes 
at it) 

My son — and not in your image. . . . 

(Bitterly) 

Empress of India! I am just an old woman — a 
lonely old woman. . . . 

( Then with a strong lift of her head) 

He would have me conquer even age — for England ! 



204 Queen Victoria 



(Disraeli returns) 

Mr. Disraeli, if I should become the Empress of 
India 

DISRAELI 

My Faerie will be Empress of India. 

VICTORIA 

Then I must understand everything about my Em- 
pire- — even Ireland. Now, just what is the trouble 
in Ireland? I have tried again and again to master 
that question and have never quite succeeded. Cer- 
tainly you, sir, can elucidate it. And when I 
understand it perfectly, I will consult with you, and 
together we will settle this Irish Question once for all. 

DISRAELI 

(Bowing low over her hand) 
England, my Empress, is perpetually doing that. 



The Curtain Falls 



SEVENTH EPISODE 

Throne Room in Buckingham Palace 
June 20, 1897 



SEVENTH EPISODE 

It is the Diamond Jubilee, in June, 1897. 

On the glistening floor of the throne room of 
Buckingham Palace there is no furniture whatever, 
but at the extreme rear, on a platform, facing toward 
us, is the ornate, empty throne, backed by a richly 
embroidered velvet hanging. On our right, toward 
the front, are tall doors, and in the opposite wall 
high windows through which we see the gray-blue 
of the twilight sky. Some of that twilight blue pene- 
trates to dance in the crystal prisms of the gorgeous 
chandeliers. 

Forming the center of the small group of men on 
the stage is Mr. Gladstone. He is 88 years old, 
and except for the footman, is the sole survivor from 
those earlier episodes we have witnessed. The repre- 
sentatives of the\ Dominions and Crown Colonies who 
surround him, some from the East in the costumes 
of their native lands and all bright with ribbons and 
decorations, are plainly mindful of his age and 
honors. When he speaks, there is silence. 

GLADSTONE 

It was Mr. Chamberlain's idea to make this Diamond 
Jubilee a festival of the British Empire. 

NEW ZEALAND REPRESENTATIVE 

Splendid idea. 

207 



2o8 Queen Victoria 



CANADIAN REPRESENTATIVE 

Let me fetch you a chair, Mr. Gladstone. 

GLADSTONE 

Thank you, sir, but I am not weary. 

NEW ZEALAND REPRESENTATIVE 

But you will be, Mr. Gladstone, before the evening 
is over. 

GLADSTONE 

Sir, I have lived eighty-eight years. Surely, that is 
time enough for one to learn how to take care of 
himself. 

INDIAN REPRESENTATIVE 

At your age, sir, you have surely learned that to take 
care of oneself is a man's first duty. 

SOUTH AFRICAN REPRESENTATIVE 

And for you, Mr. Gladstone, it is also a duty to the 
Empire. 

GLADSTONE 

But, I repeat, I am not at all weary. 

SOUTH AFRICAN REPRESENTATIVE 
Vanity, sir, vanity. 



Queen Victoria 209 



NEW ZEALAND REPRESENTATIVE 

You will break your endurance testing it so. 

GLADSTONE 

{With dignity) 

I have never yet been seated in the presence of my 
Sovereign. 

AUSTRALIAN REPRESENTATIVE 

The Empress, too, will find these ceremonies fatigu- 
ing. 

GLADSTONE 

Nothing can fatigue Her Majesty. 

CANADIAN REPRESENTATIVE 

She holds up marvellously under the strain of the 
various celebrations. 

INDIAN REPRESENTATIVE 

Have there ever been such gorgeous ceremonies be- 
fore in England? 

AUSTRALIAN REPRESENTATIVE 

No Queen anywhere has ever made such a triumphal 
progress through her capital. And the great review 
at Aldershot ! 



2IO Queen Victoria 



INDIAN REPRESENTATIVE 



I did not dream that Englishmen were capable of 
such enthusiasm. 



GLADSTONE 

A fitting climax to the most glorious reign in English 
history — in all history. 

( The doors on the left open and the aged 
Footman enters. He is now a major- 
domo with a staff. He seems even older 
than Gladstone arid only his vast pride in 
his office keeps him tolerably erect and firm 
on his feet. During the moment that the 
doors are open a murmur of many voices 
and faint music is heard outside. The 
representatives think the Queen is about 
to appear, and form two lines to the 
throne. The Major-Domo proceeds up the 
room. A door beside the dais opens; the 
men kneel. But only the Prince of 
Wales comes in. He is approaching old 
age, too. He motions to the guests to rise, 
from their salute) 

wales 
(To Major-Domo) 
Are the ambassadors all assembled? 



Queen Victoria 21 1 



MAJOR-DOMO 

Mr. Whitelaw Reid, Ambassador Extraordinary of 
His Excellency, the President of the United States 
of America, has just arrived, Your Royal Highness. 
Should I ask him to come in? 



WALES 

No. I've told you half a dozen times that this is 
a brief reception for the representatives of the states 
of the Empire and for them only. The formal recep- 
tion will follow. 

MAJOR-DOMO 

Beg pardon, Your Royal Highness. 

WALES 
Have all the ambassadors arrived^ 

MAJOR-DOMO 

They are waiting in there, Your Royal Highness. 

WALES 

Very well, then. 

{Looking over the assemblage) 
Where is Lord Salisbury? 



212 Queen Victoria 



GLADSTONE 



The Prime Minister is delivering the Jubilee address 
in the House, Your Royal Highness, and will come 
to the Palace later, heading the Commons' delega- 
tion. 

WALES 

Oh, yes — yes. That was on the agenda. I had for- 
gotten. 

{He goes out rear. The Major-Domo 
follows. Immediately a flourish of trum- 
pets. The guests take their places once 
more and assume deeply respectful atti- 
tudes. The Major-Domo returns. Then 
the Lord Chamberlain) 

LORD CHAMBERLAIN 

{Announcing) 

Her Imperial Majesty, Victoria, by the grace of God, 
Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and 
Ireland, and the Dominions overseas. Empress of 
India. 

{Another flourish of trumpets. Gentlemen 
bearing staffs back in; two Ladies of the 
Bedchamber back in. Finally, VICTORIA 
enters and mounts the dais. A long pause. 
Then she speaks in a quavering voice) 



Queen Victoria 213 



VICTORIA 

You come from the several parts of my Empire — 
of the British Empire. Through you to all my sub- 
jects I send this message: From my heart I thank 
all my beloved people in all quarters of the earth. 
May God bless them! For sixty years, with their 
loyal support, I have sat upon the Throne of Eng- 
land. I— I 

{She pauses, a faraway light, as of a mem- 
ory, crossing her eyes) 

I have tried to be good — to be a good Queen. 

{She looks into the distance — a queer, lit- 
tle, fat figure, who somehow is regal. A 
band somewhere plays "God Save the 
Queen" She nods her head to the music, 
after a moment of rigid dignity, and smiles 
— a benign, old-lady smile) 



THE END 



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